First Movement (Fragmented Suite For Piano & Bass) (4:47)
Second Movement (5:08)
Third Movement (3:35)
Fourth Movement (4:57)
Review: Duke Ellington and bassist Ray Brown deliver a riveting performance in this set of duets, evoking echoes of Ellington's earlier collaborations with Jimmy Blanton. The dynamic interplay between piano and bass creates a lively and engaging atmosphere, reminiscent of the groundbreaking work of Blanton in liberating the string bass as a solo instrument. Featuring the four-part 'Fragmented Suite for Piano and Bass' along with five standards, including Ellington-associated tunes like 'Pitter Panther Patter,' the album showcases Brown's creativity and virtuosity on the Blanton model. The music is delightful and often playful, capturing the essence of Ellington's timeless style. Cut from existing metal parts mastered by Doug Sax and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, this reissue offers superior sound quality.
Review: Prepare to be wowed by this reissue of a classic Roberta Flack album. It is one that is now 50+ years old so comes on special clear vinyl. It topped the charts in 1972, some three years after it was actually released in 1969. Of course, it is best known for the tune 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' which was in Clint Eastwood's movie 'Play Misty for Me'. It went on to stay at number one for six weeks and then won the Grammyr Award for Record of the Year in 1973. Allegedly the record only took 10 hours to complete in its entirety, and what a record it is.
Review: The vast and ongoing Blue Note reissue series continues apace her with organist Ronnie Foster's Two Headed Freep album. Foster was a master collaborator who worked with everyone from George Benson to the Jacksons to Stevie Wonder (an in fact played the keys on Songs In The Key Of Life.) But it was his work on Grant Green's funky live LP Alive! in 1970 that caught the attention of the Blue Note boss who tapped him up for this label debut two years later. It is a vibrant seton tunes with five originals as well as covers of the likes of Al Green. Kevin Gray has mastered it from the original tapes and it has been pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Review: Ryo Fukui's My Favorite Tune album is a lovely adventure into bop. It was first released in 1994 by Sapporo Jazz Create and this reissue comes with liner notes by Yusuke Ogawa. The album was his only solo piano album that was recorded live. The set, played at The Lutheran Hall in Sapporo, features firm fan favs like 'Nord' and 'Voyage' next to alternate takes on some of his own classics such as 'Scenery' and 'Mellow Dream'. The music of Barry Harris, Sonny Clark and Avery Parrish is also covered in truly unique Ryo Fukui fashion and the whole thing has been mastered at half speed.
Review: Mathew Halsall's Manchester-based Gondwana label reaches out to Hanakiv, a young composer and musician from Estonia who is now based in London. She has a sound couched in meditative piano but with influences from experimental, classical and her own cultural heritage. She has formally studied composition and has a real love of nature as well as mavericks like Aphex Twin, all of which come out in these challenging but ultimately rewarding sounds. They are often both soothing and cathartic yet edgy and inventive in the way the chords are paired with busy wind sounds, shimmering vocals and tense melodies.
B-STOCK: A few dents in the sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)
Je Vous Aime (I Love You)
I Believe To My Soul
Misty
Sugar Lee
Tryin' Times
Thank You Master (For My Soul)
The Ghetto
To Be Young, Gifted & Black
Review: ***B-STOCK: A few dents in the sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
Upon its release in 1970, Donny Hathaway's latest album was met with critical acclaim but modest commercial success. The LP showcased Hathaway's extraordinary versatility, blending gospel, jazz, blues and soul into a cohesive whole. It was a rich tapestry of influences, marked by Hathaway's stunning vocal prowess and his ability to craft arrangements that felt both intricate and organic. The album also set the stage for his subsequent works, cementing Hathaway as one of the most important voices of his generation. Tracks like 'The Ghetto' and 'Tryin' Times' revealed his commitment to addressing social issues, while songs like 'Thank You Master' and 'Je Vous Aime' showcased his personal and spiritual depth. In the decades since its release, Everything Is Everything has grown in stature, celebrated as a cornerstone of soul music.
Review: American Bobbi Humphrey is one of the most well loved jazz flautists. She turned out plenty of vibrant albums, none less so than this, Fancy Dancer, which was her fifth. It came on Blue Note in 1975 and is full of all killer no filler gold. It also saw her, along with producers the Mizell Brothers aka Larry and Fonce, come up with a fresh new largely instrumental funk sound. Weaving in everything from world music to soul-jazz to club music to pop, it's a widescreen sound that is packed with uplifting flute from Humphrey and lush production that reveals something new with each listen.
Review: The Invisible Sessions new album Echoes of Africa is the first on the newly launched Space Echo label out of Italy and is richly rooted in black music. It's been 15 years since a breakout release put this group on the map and now trombonist and multi-instrumentalist Gianluca Petrella and poet, rapper and MC Martin Thomas Paavilainen (aka Benjamin "Bentality" Paavilainen) link once more to great effect as they use jazz as a vehicle to convey their messages of cultural synergy, unity and love. Afro-beat and Ethio-jazz, funk, psychedelia, and modal music all colour the most compelling grooves.
Review: Originally released in 1993, this special edition enhances The James Taylor Quartet's legacy with remastered tracks and bonus material. Known for its infectious grooves, soulful melodies and catchy Hammond organ riffs, it captures the energy of London's 90s jazz scene and then some. Featuring standout tracks like 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' the album seamlessly blends jazz, funk and soul and this reissue reaffirms its timeless appeal by introducing new generations to its dynamic sound while offering nostalgia for longtime fans. A cornerstone of modern jazz-funk brilliance.
Review: Could there be many more soothing words than Blue Note, Christmas and Norah Jones as we head into winter? I Dream Of Christmas is the famous crooner's first ever holiday album and is packed with warm, heart melting tracks and feel good sounds. The nine-time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, and pianist has really excelled herself with this delightful and comforting collection of timeless seasonal favs. There are some new original songs that come laden with the complicated emotions of our times and plenty of hopeful moments that are sure to become repeat fixtures in your festive playlists.
Review: Ultra lo-fi stereo funkage from L'Eclair, the latest signage to Swiss label Rock This Town. 'Cruise Control' is a muddy and smoggy six-track instrumental disco-funk EP, with seven members laying down parts on wah-wah, space horn, and synth. It sounds as if a mega-talented disco troupe were performing in the next building, but they could only be heard through thick insulation or some kind of muffling foam. The tone is ultimately pleasing, blurry and cloudlike, as if this were disco beamed to us from heaven as opposed to the material world. The softest cuts, such as 'Safari In D', are our highlights.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Hymnal (2:19)
Northern Shuffle (6:04)
Omission (3:25)
Serenade (5:21)
Myself Around You (5:52)
South Mountain (5:05)
Speak To Me (4:18)
Two & One (4:17)
Vanishing Points (4:19)
Tiburon (4:22)
As It Were (5:03)
76 (4:33)
Nothing Happens Here (4:08)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage's Speak To Me is a dynamic Blue Note album produced by Joe Henry. Arriving with 13 original tracks, Lage's compositions navigate a rich tapestry of American music genres, from gospel hymns to California singer-songwriter vibes and skronky jazz. The album's lead single '76' showcases a hard-driving blues essence, while 'As It Were' offers an atmospheric acoustic ballad. With contributions from Kris Davis, Patrick Warren, Levon Henry, and his trusted trio with bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King, Lage presents a multifaceted musical journey that captivates and enthrals in equal measure here.
Review: An homage to the golden era of soul-jazz, and recorded live to two inch analogue tape at All Things Analogue Studios in Leeds, Doo Ha! sizzles with an electric soul undercurrent - perfect nourishment for the meditative but motivated dancefloor. Flaunting flautist Chip Wickham front and centre, it's the perfect complement for a lazy Sunday afternoon listen, whence groove and grit need not succumb to nostalgia. Inspired by jazz greats like Ramsey Lewis and Les McCann, the album's soul-stirring rhythms are driven by ATA's Sam Hobbs (drums) and Neil Innes (bass), plus contributions from Sam Bell, John Ellis, and Wickham on flute. The seven tracks range from the down-home swagger of 'Walk On' to the cinematic vibes of 'The Saint And The Stranger,' celebrating the totemic spirit of soul-jazz in the North of England.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Walkin' (13:24)
Blue 'N Boogie (8:20)
Solar (4:44)
You Don't Know What Love Is (4:22)
Love Me Or Leave Me (6:57)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
A striking album of the bop era that was highlighted by his undying conviction and ability to reclaim his status as a primary architect of the genre. The album is built around two exceptional groups: a sextet and a quintet, both anchored by Davis' blue-chip rhythm section of Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Kenny Clarke (drums). The sextet features trombonist J.J. Johnson and tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson, while the quintet adds Dave Schildkraut (alto sax), whose contributions, though lesser-known, are memorable. The title track, an extended 12-bar blues, shows Davis' ability to exude an air of detachment from the music, making it feel like an extension of his solo rather than the other way around. 'Blue 'n' Boogie', in contrast, is a lively, energetic tune where Davis and Johnson engage in spirited improvisation, with Johnson even quoting from Thelonious Monk's 'Rhythm-A-Ning'. 'Solar' introduces a delicate interplay, with Silver's piano solo displaying an Ellington-esque elegance. The album's final track, 'Love Me or Leave Me', foreshadows Davis' later breakthrough, with his swift and decisive trumpet solo hinting at the bold innovations to come. Walkin' stands as an essential bop-era classic, with Davis' brilliant command over his instruments and his bandmates, with pieces like 'Walkin'' and 'Solar' cementing its place as a foundational jazz work.
Review: Leeds-based saxophonist and bandleader Jasmine Myra made a big impact with her debut album, Horizons. It soon sold out and now gets a welcome reissue. Produced by Matthew Halsall and mixed by Portico Quartet collaborator Greg Freeman, this album showcases Myra's skills and astounding depth as a composer as well as performer. Her sound captures the zeitgeist of jazz's new vanguard, but equally, she has her own take on fusing traditional skills with modern ideas. The overall finish on the record is light and airy, each individual element given ample room to breathe and announcing Myra's arrival in relaxed but resplendent style.
Review: This 1973 jazz funk release shines with Steve Grossman at the helm, surrounded by a stellar lineup that's bound to excite both jazz aficionados and the Rare Groove and DJ communities. The original album, a gem from the iconic TBM (Three Blind Mice) label, has earned its place in jazz history, bridging the gap between traditional jazz and more contemporary sounds. Now, after years of anticipation, this reissue brings the record back to vinyl, expertly remastered by Bernie Grundman. The package includes the original liner notes, offering a richer experience for those revisiting this classic and new listeners alike.
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