JAZZ REISSUES |
 JIMMY McGRIFF - MEAN MACHINE CD £11.95
Classic McGriff Electric keyboards album from 1976 with strings and great sax and flute from Joe Thomas.
'It Feels So Nice' is a string laden rare groove classic, 'Mean Machine' is a funky mid tempo groover, also check 'Please Don't Take Out' and the slinky 'Overweight Shark Bait'..
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 LONNIE SMITH KEEP ON LOVIN CD £11.95
Really good jazz funk album from 1976 arranged by Brad (B) Baker. Inc the Killer jazz funk dancers 'Sizzle Stick' (think Mr Magic) and 'Filet O Sole , and the funkier 'Lean Meat' plus the driving 'No tears Tomorrow' and mellow 'What I Want'.
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 DONALD BYRD- LOVE BYRD CD £14.95
At last on Cd hugely in demand Isaac Hayes produced album that has many top tunes on it. ‘Love Has Come Around’ is an early 80’s dancer whilst there are some great mid-tempo gems that appeal to the 2-step crew, including ‘I Feel Like Loving You Today’, ‘I Love Your Love’ and the beautiful ‘I’ll Always Love You’ plus the gentle ‘Butterfly’.
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 LUIS GASCA –LUIS GASCA CD £19.95
Trumpeter Gasca combines Latin Fire with Funk Jazz on this incredible album from 1973 surely one of the best latin tinged jazz funk albums ever.
The smouldering ‘Street Dude’ and ‘Little Mama’ really cook but its on the incredible ‘Spanish Gypsy’ that things really take off. This 15 min opus builds to a crescendo and is totally absorbing. Features Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Carlos Santana, George Cables, Lenny White and Coke Escovedo. A classic
Also recommended ‘Little Giant’ CD £19.95
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 RAMON MORRIS SWEET SISTER FUNK CD £11.95 LP £9.95
Possibly the best GM album of all. This 1973 album inc the heavy funky jazz groover 'First Come First Served' allowing Ramon to improvise over a solid funky base. 'Sweet Sister Funk' is a jazz funk dancer, theres a grea cover of 'People Make The World Go Round' , 'Wijinia' is a beautiful mid tempo track, 'Don't Ask' is jazzier and really swings, and 'Lord Sideways' is enthralling on this Excellent album.
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 O'DONEL LEVY SIMBA CD £11.95
Great 1973 album from guitarist O'Donel ft the kicking drums of Steve Gadd and Jon Faddis on trumpet. 'Bad Bad Simba' is a killer 7min fast fusion track that really shifts, 'Kilimanjaro Cookout' is aptly titled, the gentle 'Sad Sad Simba' and the atmospheric 'Sierra Lonely' and 'Nigerian Knights' build nicely.
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 LONNIE SMITH AFRODESIA CD £11.95 LP £9.95
Great 1975 album ft Lonnie on both Electric Keyboards and Organ, and George Benson on Guitar.. Inc the incredible 9min 'Afrodesia' Ft Ron Carter's slapping bass that builds and builds , 'Spirits Free' a 15 min Spiritual jazz workout, 'Straight To The Point' a latin rhythm organ track, and the organ groove 'Favors'.
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 JIMMY McGRIFF IF YOURE READY COME GO WITH ME CD £11.95
Great funky organ collection from 1974 although recorded earlier. Inc his funky organ versions of 'If You're ready Come Go With Me' and 'Lets Stay Together' along with some early 70's JB style funk of 'Dig On It', 'Fat Cakes', 'Super Funk', 'The Bird' and a great version of 'Aint It Funky Now'.
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 JOE THOMAS FEELINGS FROM WITHIN CD £11.95
1976 Groove Merchant album inc the Jazz funk winner 'Funky Fever' and the atmospheric title track both ft Joe on flute. 'Polarizer' and the killer 'Galaxy Dreamin' are classic mid 70's jazz funk with Brad Baker's brass and string arrangements reminiscent of what Bob James was doing at CTI at the time. Highly underrated album.
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 FRANK FOSTER LOUD MINORITY JAPANESE CD £19.95 LP £9.95
Ex Count Basie MD, Foster's intense sax is the perfect vehicle for this great Spiritual Jazz album. The title song featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater is a definite political statement and was re-interpreted in the 90's by UFO. 'JP's Thing' is a hard left of centre funky Jazz groove, driven by Stanley Clarke's relentless bass line. Try also the gentlier 'EW Beautiful People', whose vibe is very spiritual.
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 RAMP – COME INTO KNOWLEDGE CD £ 9.95
Rare Groove era classic, this Roy Ayers production is typical of his music c. 1977. Full of funky grooves like ‘Try Try Try’ ‘The American Promise’ and ‘Give It’, the album is renowned for its take on ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ and ‘Daylight’ and the haunting title track. The album has that slightly off-key vibe that sounds as fresh today as back in the day. Awesome stuff.
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 ROY AYERS – LIFELINE CD £9.95
From 1977, apart from ‘Running Away’, this album tends to get overlooked in the Roy Ayers discography, which would be a shame as it has stood the test of time. The afore mentioned classic is the standout, but check the mid-tempo groovers like ‘This Side Of Sunshine’, the marvellously atmospheric ‘Gotta Find A Lover’ and the jazzy ‘I Still Love You’, which is enhanced by the vocal contribution of Dee Dee Bridgewater. On the uptempo slant check the jaunty ‘Sanctified Feeling’ or the silly ‘Cincinnati Growl’.
Includes a bonus the long 12” version of ‘Running Away’ with vibes solo.
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 STANLEY CLARKE – CHILDREN OF FOREVER CD £9.95
Early classic Stanley Clarke from 1973, ‘Children’ was produced by Chick Corea and features vocalists Andy Bey and Dee Dee Bridgewater. The spiritual Jazz inspired cuts like the title song, ‘Unexpected Days’ and the 16 minute opus ‘Sea Journey’ and ‘Butterfly Dreams’ are a joy and deep. Try also the heavy instrumental ‘Bass Folk Song’. Clarke’s playing on upright bass is awesome, and this album is inspirational.
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 LIFEFORCE – FEARLESS WARRIORS CD £13.95 LP £13.95
From 1979, this Spiritual Jazz tinged Fusion set derives its inspiration from the likes of Pharoah Sanders. ‘Fearless warriors’ is fine tough Jazz Funk groove, whilst ‘To Pharoah With Love’ adds a Bossa flavour. Previously this album was released solely as a private pressing and is nigh impossible to find. The slower ‘Atlanta Anna’ and the relaxed ‘Wow’ are archetypal late 70’s Jazz Funk a la Crusaders/ early Spyro Gyra, whilst ‘Sister Bea’ is a melodic groove.
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BLUE NOTE...
As featured on BBC Financial news website ‘the best soul album you’ve never heard’
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