Sonny Fortune – Long Before Our Mothers Cried
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1974, Jazz
When critics speak of Sonny Fortune, names like Coltrane, Cannonball, Young, Bechet, Hawkins and Parker are mentioned. Quite a legacy – but well deserved – for Sonny Fortune embodies all of the finest qualities of those late, great musicians: hard work, dedication to his art, and exceptional music. Lucky for us, Sonny is still here and blowing hard.
Arranged By, Composed By, Flute, Producer, Saxophone [Alto, Soprano] – Sonny Fortune
Tracklist
01. Long Befor Our Mothers Cried
02. A Tribute To a Holiday (Billie)
03. Sound Of Silents
04. Five For Trane
05. Wayneish
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Milt Jackson Quartet – Statements
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1962, Jazz
Along side Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo, Milt Jackson stands as the defining personality for the vibraphone in jazz. Statements was recording in 1961 during the middle of his twenty year tenure with the now legendary Modern Jazz Quartet. Hank Jones, who played piano on the session said, “The biggest thing about Milt is his feeling. He gets more emotional mileage out of a melody than any other vibist. Others may feel a song as deeply as he does, but he somehow can express more emotion. It’s fantastic what he can make out of the most simple line.” Connie Kay, Milt’s drummer-bandmate from the Modern Jazz Quartet, joined the session as well as bassist Paul Chambers. The resulting tracks were considered to be some of Milt’s best as evidenced by the easy-going, free spirited performances heard throughout.
Tracklist
01. Statement
02. Slowly
03. A Thrill From The Blues
04. Paris Blues
05. Put Off
06. A Beautiful Romance
07. Sonnymoon For Two
08. The Bad and The Beautiful
09. Blues For Juanita
10. I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good
11. Big George
12. Gingerbread Boy
13. Anything I Do
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Archie Shepp – For Losers
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1971, Jazz
This LP came out in 1970 or 1971 as an odd mix of music / sessions. The gems are tracks 3 and 4 : Archie Shepp accompanying a Billie Holiday impression (by Chinalin Sharpe, the wife of the alto player on the track)and cutting loose with a very striking solo on “I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)”; and Archie Shepp’s soulful, pleading yet defiant dirge reading of Cal Massey’s “What Would It Be Without You”. Stunning, compelling tenor work. The long “Un Croque Monsieur” has its moments as well, although its inserted poem may sound a bit dated today (late 60′s avant garde). Cedar Walton, Wilbur Ware and Cecil Payne (baritone sax and flute) provide solid support throughout on these three tracks. Tracks 1 and 2 are from different recording sessions, with larger ensembles (including electric bass) and a pseudo commercial feel. Track 1 is a Leon Thomas vocal.
Tracklist
01. Stick ‘Em Up
02. Abstract
03. I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
04. What Would It Be Without You
05. Un Croque Monsieur (Poem For Losers)
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Jackie McLean – Action, Action, Action
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1964, Jazz
This 1964 Blue Note release features Jackie McLean and his band in fine form. A hard-bop record with polytonal leanings, ACTION exemplifies an era in jazz when new ideas were truly budding. Ornette Coleman and his associates had been playing free jazz five years prior to the making of this album, but it took a while for the hard-boppers to digest the music and embrace the freedom that the style brought to the art form. Therefore, a lot of the music from this period sounds like it’s in transition, and ACTION is no exception.
In other words, ACTION is a good example of the growing convergence of bop and avant-garde. This is heard particularly on the title track, and on trumpeter Charles Tolliver’s tune, “Plight.” However, the group falls back on their more traditional roots with the standard, “I Hear a Rhapsody” and on the bluesy McLean original, “Hootnan.” Each player holds his own on this date, though vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson stands out the most with some charmingly “inside” playing.
Tracklist
01. Action
02. Plight
03. Wrong Handle
04. I Hear A Rhapsody
05. Hootnan
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John Klemmer – Touch
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1975, Jazz
Originally recorded in the mid-70′s, who could ever forget the sax sounds of John Klemmer! A one-of-a-kind wonder where the artistry came together perfectly.
The title song “Touch” is the opening number and was a big hit back in its day. It still sounds fresh today. “Sleeping Eyes” is riveting full of soul with John on the sax and Dave Grusin on the keyboards. Other musicians that round out the group are two from Tom Scott’s L.A. Express. “Body Pulse” is pretty hot. “Tone Row Weaver” begins very toned-down but hold on as it builds into an 8-minute long seering number.
Smooth jazz stations still play this one 30 years later. While some purport this sound to be the predecessor to the “smooth jazz” genre, I feel it is a perfect balance between the hot sounds of the 60′s and the cool sax sounds of the 80′s. This is a fine collection that is perfect for kicking back and relaxing. Pure joy!
Tracklist
01. Touch
02. Glass Dolphins
03. Waterwheels
04. Free Fall Lover
05. Sleeping Eyes
07. Body Pulse
08. Walk With Me My Love And Dream
Link Removed In Request Of Remohj Music
you can buy his albums here: www.johnklemmer.com
Iswhat?! Albums!
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2004, 2006, 2009, Discography, Jazz Rap
ISWHAT?! started out in 1996 as a renegade hip-hop trio, focusing on live performances, but instead of only saluting rap pioneers, ISWHAT?! connects Hip-hop with free-jazz, rock and soul in a unique way. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the band was formed by vocalist/beatboxer Napoleon Maddox, saxophonist Jack Walker, and bassist Matthew Anderson.
for more info and buy: www.iswhat-flavor.com
Little preview:
2004 – You Figure It Out
Tracklist
01. ?!…. feat John Doe
02. Parachutes
03. Concussion feat Hamid Drake
04. Can’t Get In feat Hamid Drake
05. Fables of Faubus
06. Bridge feat John Doe
07. Lies
08. Trust Introduct
09. Trust feat John Doe/Michael Barnhart)
10. Gotta Be feat Hamid Drake
11. Thump, Loop & Scratch feat Animal Crackers
12. Salty
13. Cold Hands
14. Let Silence Speak Consent – (Cold Hands DJ Spinna remix)
15. Untitled
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2006 – The Life We Chose
Tracklist
01. Kasmir
02. Casket
03. Profiles feat. Hamid Drake
04. Mooch feat. Roy Campbell Jr.
05. Ronin’s Ballad
06. The Life We Chose feat. Ming and FS
07. Pilgrimage feat. Claire Daly
08. Circus
09. Ill Biz
10. Front feat Goonda
11. K.N.O.C.K. feat. Piakhan
12. The Voice Within
13. What Happens
14. Writer’s Block feat. Fatal Prose and Ill Poetic
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2009 – Big Appetite
Tracklist
01. Dig
02. Cats
03. Homestead
04. Fanta (with Sofia Rubina)
05. Appetizer
06. Breeze (with Boogie Bang & Piakhan)
07. Hungry (with Fernanda Wilmes)
08. Cincitite
09. Cleaner
10. Cake (feat. Boogie Bang)
11. Caferteria (with Ill Poetic)
12. Luxury
13. Cramps
14. Trouble (with Nyeemah the Soulsayer)
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Jneiro Jarel – Fauna
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2010, Electronic
Jneiro Jarel returns with a new Brazilian-inspired LP for Kindred Spirits. Jneiro has always had a Brazilian streak to his music, but finally with “Fauna” he gets to create a whole album inspired by the home of the Seleção. Giving credit to his mother for turning him onto Sérgio Mendes, Tom Jobim, and Caetano Veloso at an early age, it was an inspired dig through the record collection of KS label don KC Tha Funkaholic, as well as discovering Arthur Verocai and Zuco 103, that put him in the headspace to compose most of Fauna over a three month period.
But while Jneiro was fired up by the melodies and rhythms of Brazil, the record is more than just a collection of beats and dusty samples. Dedicated to conservation, “Fauna” is made for the plants and wildlife in Brazil, many of them endangered and all of which have such a huge impact on the planet’s ecosystem. Scattered throughout the LP are the sounds of the rainforest and the Amazon, as tropical birds calls mix with dubby synths and cone-shaking sub bass, and phased vocals are panned around beats and Candomblé rhythms. Jneiro has created a unique sense of space on “Fauna”, which is at once hypnotic and spiritual, while also deep in the kind of studio-wizardry which has informed the stylings of so many beat producers around the world in recent years.
for more info and buy: myspace.com/jneirojarel
Tracklist
01. Voice Of The Kayapo
02. Castaju Cajunea
03. Amazonica
04. Rio De Jneiro (Jarumba)
05. Bird Charm
06. Wave Trip
07. Dabuwe
08. Indigo Eden
09. Fauna
10. Can You Computer Bruuhzeel
11. Monkey Hustle (Man On Fire)
12. See Them Cry (Painted Tears)
Supersci – Timelines
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2010, Rap
Supersci – classical hip hop aesthetics mixed with Northern melancholy.
Supersci, also known as Superscientifiku, have made a name for themselves as the jazziest constellation in Swedish hip hop. Their soulful music has one foot in the american east coast hiphop of the 90′s and the other one firmly planted in swedish jazz and folktone tradition. The texts are smart and cunning, and blend melancholy with humour in a laid back way.
Producer/emcee Arka and emcee Noun joined forces in 1996 and formed the group’s nucleus in 1996. After a few years, jazz cat Erik joined in, adding a more musical live feel. DJ Observe spins the wax. Female crew member Remedeeh is a constant collaborator in the studio and a permanent part of the Supersci live setting.
for more info and buy: www.flyphonic.com/supersci
Tracklist
01. Timelines
02. Revolutions (Feat. Henrik talnacke)
03. Snap Out Of It
04. Wristwatch
05. Sow To Reap
06. How Real Is Time
07. As Life Flashes By In Fast Forward
08. In The Now (Feat. Phonetik)
09. I Can Do Anything
10. Frozen Leaves
11. The Future Is Already Here
12. Where Have You Been (Feat. Phonetik)
Teebs – Ardour
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2010, Electronic
Teebs is a Los Angeles-based artist and producer and this is his debut Lp. For more info and buy check: myspace.com/teeeb
little preview:
Tracklist
01. You’ve Changed
02. Bound Ball
03. Double Fifths
04. While You Doooo
05. Moments
06. Burner
07. Wind Loop
08. Lakeshore Ave.
09. Arthur’s Birds
10. Gordon
11. Bern Rhythm
12. Felt Tip
13. King Bathtub
14. My Whole Life
15. Long Distance feat. Gaby Hernandez
16. Why Like This
17. Humming Birds
18. Autumn Antique
Link Removed in request of Teebs
Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1956, Jazz
This September 7, 1956 session is a loose blowing date that reprises the notion of a four saxophone concord as it was originally presented by the Four Brothers in Woody Herman’s boppish late ’40s big band, the Thundering Herd. Tenor brothers Al Cohn and Zoot Sims join forces with Hank Mobley and John Coltrane to depict the kind of good-natured, after hours cutting sessions that helped young improvisers determine how far they had come, and how much more work remained to be done. The superb rhythm section of Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor helps make Tenor Concalve more than just another exercise in technical bluster. As he did with Miles Davis, pianist Garland custom tailors his accompaniment to fit the style of each soloist, while bassist Chambers offers the kind of matchless harmonic and rhythmic virtuosity that made his name synonymous with modern jazz bass playing in the late ’50s. Dig how they team with drummer Taylor to urge on each soloist on Mobley’s title tune, and when they go to Chambers for two choruses of expressively bowed bass, the groove never lags or falters. “Just You, Just Me” offers up a modern set of chord changes to navigate (Monk’s tricky melody “Evidence.”) The ensemble work suggests the warm interplay of the original Four Brothers, and Mobley’s simmering rhythmic ideas and burnished sound function as a prelude for Zoot Sims’ garrulous Lesterisms, and floating rhythmic ideas. Coltrane enters with a hard, keening cry, the ideas rapidly unfurling in the harmonic wind tunnel of his imagination. He holds things in check enough to accommodate Cohn’s contrasting timbre and rhythm style, and all four players display enormous empathy during their concluding round-robin exchanges.
Tracklist
01. Tenor Conclave
02. Just You, Just Me
03. Bob’s Boys
04. How Deep Is The Ocean
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Dexter Gordon Quintet – Ladybird
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1965, Jazz
Dexter Gordon is considered to be the first musician to translate the language of Bebop to the tenor saxophone. Personnel: Dexter Gordon (tenor saxophone); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Kenny Drew (piano); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (double bass); Alex Reil (drums).
Tracklist
01. Ladybird
02. So What
03. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
04. Blues
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Red Garland Quintet – Soul Junction
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1957, Jazz
While the late Red Garland is best-known and fondly remembered as the pianist for the Miles Davis Quintet in the mid-1950s, he also had a career of his own. Garland’s style was a gregarious balance of the sophistication of bebop and the earthiness of the blues. Soul Junction, recorded in 1950, is Garland leading a group featuring Davis bandmate John Coltrane and soon-to-be-rising-trumpet-star (in the late ’50s/early ’60s) Donald Byrd. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable hard bop jaunt through a Garland original and four familiar standards, with Coltrane laying down his near-torrential “sheets of sound” and Byrd playing Mr. Cool to ‘Trane’s soul and fire. Art Taylor keeps things swinging crisply and Garland, as usual, is masterful (but never in a show-off manner).
Tracklist
01. Soul Junction
02. Woody’n You
03. Birk’s Works
04. I’ve Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
05. Hallelujah
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Archie Whitewater – Archie Whitewater
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1970, Funk, Jazz, Soul
little preview:
Tracklist
01. Don’t Be Short
02. Northstar
03. Mist Of The Early
04. Life Is A River
05. Friends and Neighbors
06. Country To The City
07. Home Again
08. Cross Country
09. Lament For The Walking
10. Seacost
11. Hulk
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Al Grey – Snap Your Fingers
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1962, Jazz
Trombonist Al Grey is joined by emerging young tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell on this pair of 1962 sessions. The first five tracks also feature trumpeter Dave Burns and obscure pianist Floyd Morris. “Nothing But the Truth” is smoldering up-tempo blues with a bit of a gospel flavor, while Morris gets into the groove of the mid-tempo “Three-Fourth Blues.” Mitchell especially shines on Melba Liston’s soulful ballad “Just Waiting.” The three tracks from the earlier session feature Donald Byrd on trumpet and Herbie Hancock on piano. Also here is the slashing hard bop composition “Minor on Top.” Another Liston piece, “African Lady,” is complex and showcases Grey’s sensitive solo. There’s not a bad track on this recommended album.
Tracklist
01. Nothing But The Truth
02. Three-Fourth Blues
03. Just Waiting
04. R.B.Q.
05. On Green Dolphin Street
06. Minor On Top
07. African Lady
08. Hi-Fly
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Herbie Mann – Glory Of Love
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1967, Jazz
Herbie Mann’s soulful flute meets the breezy production values of CTI/A&M, for a good set of tracks that have a light easy feel to them, and a nice post-bossa groove! The set includes a good cover of “Upa, Neguinho”, plus “Love Is Stronger Far Than We”, “The Letter”, “In & Out”, and “No Use Crying”. Arrangements by Roy Glover, Herb Bernstein, and Herbie himself
Tracklist
01. No Use Crying
02. Hold On, I’m Coming
03. Glory Of Love
04. Unchain My Heart
05. House Of The Rising Sun
06. The Letter
07. Upa, Neguinho
08. Love Is Stronger Far Than We
09. Oh, How I Want To Love
10. In and Out
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Donald Byrd – Royal Flush
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1961, Jazz
In the early 1960s, long before he’d pursue a funkier, electric direction, Donald Byrd was one of the leading trumpeters on the American jazz scene. Recorded in autumn 1961, Royal Flush is hard-swinging and deep-grooving hard bop. It does, however, point to aspects of jazz’s future contributed by a young Herbie Hancock and the inventive drumming of Billy Higgins.
Tracklist
01. Hush
02. I’m A Fool To Want You
03. Jorgie’s
04. Shangri-la
05. 6 M’s 6
06. Requiem
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Julius Brockington – Sophisticated Funk
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1972, Funk
Funky keyboard tracks from Julius Brockington – a mad early 70s figure who not only cut some wild funk, but who also ended up doing a fair bit of gospel work in later years. This set’s a good bit of stoner funk tracks – in the wilder mode of the Perception/Today label – and it’s got production by Boo Frazier and Patrick Adams that is very “hands off” when it comes to Brockington’s keys. The track list includes covers of some soul stuff like “Rock Steady” and “Do Your Thing” (which is done in a nice long version), plus a good original called “Cold Water”.
Tracklist
01. Let’s Stay Together
02. Rock Steady
03. Since I Fell For You
04. Cold Water
05. If You Really Love Me
06. Old Fashion Love Song
07. Got To Be There
08. Do Your Thing
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Cro-Magnon – Plays
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2009, Funk, Jazz, Soul
A killer concept from Cro-Magnon – a set that has the contemporary combo taking on a host of funky classics from years back! The style here is wonderfully laidback – lots of Fender Rhodes spun out with long, lean, easygoing lines – mixed with a bit of piano at points too, all in the chunky modes we’ve always loved in Cro-Magnon’s music – but almost even better here than before, given the classic twist! Wicked stuff that almost single-handedly revives the CTI generation – with tracks that include “Remind Me”, “Tell Me A Bedtime Story”, “Red Clay”, “If You Want Me To Stay”, “The Sweetest Taboo”,and “Dancer”.
little preview:
Tracklist
01. Red Clay (Freddie Hubbard)
02. Tell Me A Bedtime Story (Herbie Hancock)
03. If You Want Me To Stay (Sly & The Family Stone)
04. Remind Me (Patrice Rushen)
05. If You Want Me To Stay (Sly & The Family Stone
06. The Sweetest Taboo (Sade)
07. For Once In My Life (Stevie Wonder)
08. Dancer (Tatsuro Yamashita)
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Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble “Deliver the Word” feat Aloe Blacc
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2010
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble and Aloe Blacc pay tribute to Guru. They perform an arrangement of Gang Starr’s “Betrayal”, enjoy!
Samon Kawamura – Unfold
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2008, Hip Hop
Unfold, the successor of Translations (Samon ´s debut-album released on Nesola in the middle of 2007), came into existence. The most obvious difference in comparison with its predecessor is the participation of vocalists/rappers, whose selection nearly seems to follow a concept.
With Madlib´ s brother OH NO and Aloe Blacc two Stonesthrow-artists stood in front of the mic. The contributions of Om’Mas Keith (SA-RA Creative Partners) and the producing MC Ta’Raach fit in the picture as well with regard to the creative backgrounds and interests, the whole thing being rounded out by Kev Brown from the Jazzy Jeff-camp and Laura López Castro.
With Unfold there nearly is a balance between songs with and without vocals. The message being articulated by the lyrical contributions to the songs is basically characterized by passion for the art form and some kind of authentic and serious contemplation on the subject matter.
for more info and buy: www.samonkawamura.com
Tracklist
01. Intro
02. Sugar Hill feat. Om’Mas (from SA-RA Creative Partners)
03. Love And Sex
04. Still Significant Feat. Kev Brown
05. 0804-005
06. Right Here Feat. Oh No
07. Morioka Sunset (JS Love)
08. Night Will Fall
09. Interlude
10. Try Feat. Aloe Blacc
11. Let’s Do It
12. Lovelude Feat. Ta’Raach
13. Get Down Feat. Ta’Raach
14. No Te Puedo Ver Feat. Laura López Castro
15. Y.W.A.G.D.
16. Cp2sk Feat. Christian Prommer
17. Playground
18. Outro
