The Awakening - Mirage (Black Jazz, 1973)
A masterpiece of the ‘70s Post-Coltrane sound that is the epitome of the genre that now falls under the moniker of “Spiritual Jazz”.
The Awakening were a collective of Chicago-based improvisers/composers who recorded just three albums - the first two for Gene Russell’s legendary Black Jazz imprint. Every tune on this album is spellbinding in its own way - from the heavy Funk-driven “Slinky” and “Mode For D.D”, the languid, reflective, Shorter-esque “Just A Little Peace” and album closer “March On” - which is almost proto-Broken Beat in its fierce, relentless rhythm.
A top-shelf Black Jazz Label release where everything seems to hit in just the right place…This is the original 1973 Stereo Quadrophonic pressing.
#theawakening
Sly & The Family Stone - Back On The Right Track (Warner Bros, 1979)
“When things seem so hazy, and facts attempt to blind…
Of the few that think it’s crazy, confused with peace of mind.
They must know you’re hearing everything they say…Giving you more of a reason to keep on going your way…Remember who you are…”
#slyandthefamilystone
Ivan “Boogaloo Joe” Jones - My Fire! More Of The Psychedelic Soul Jazz Guitar Of Joe Jones (Prestige, 1968) Thanks to @carolinasoulrecords for hooking me up with this EX OG blue label copy of the Soul Jazz guitarist’s sophomore Prestige album, which will replace my old reissue and complete his full catalogue. The Jones Tone is raw, un-effected, high-powered direct current heat - and he stands alongside George Benson, Melvin Sparks, Jimmy Ponder and Billy Butler as one of the guitar gods from Prestige’s Golden Age of Soul-Jazz.
#ivanboogaloojoejones
Horace Parlan - Happy Frame Of Mind (Blue Note, 1986) This album sat on the Blue Note shelves for 23 years until it got it’s proper issue under the leaders name in 1986 (with amazing original cover art by Reid Miles) - though the music came out on a Booker Ervin re-issue comp in ‘76. Jazz-head minutiae aside, this is a fairly loose and free-wheeling Blue Note date, and the stand out tune for me is the opener “Home Is Africa” - anchored by its earthy and insistent bass line. Horace Parlan’s melodic bent slants towards the unexpected, recalling the work of the master of the musical surprise Thelonious Monk. I chased this LP down in my ongoing quest to file all of Grant Green’s sideman dates. His contribution here consists of several relatively brief solos, but as always he leaves an indelible, soulful impression.
#horaceparlan
John Coltrane - Coltrane (Prestige, 1957) I’ve had a listening focus on ‘Trane’s Prestige run of late - and no better place to start than here, with his very first album date as a leader. After gaining widespread attention in the Jazz scene as a member of Miles Davis’ classic ‘50’s Quintet, Prestige’s Bob Weinstock gave Coltrane a recording contract which began with this record. Featuring Davis band-mates Paul Chambers and Red Garland, he also gathered Sahib Shihab, Mal Waldron, Johnny Splawn and Albert Heath into the session. The remarkable thing here is just how fully-formed Coltrane’s tone and conception is, especially for someone recording his first solo album. Soon he would spread his wings and embark on a decade-long exploration that would reach the outer limits of the possibilities of improvised music.
#johncoltrane
Earth, Wind & Fire - “Brazilian Rhyme”/“Runnin’” (CBS, 1977) I was really happy to find this UK 12” that features two of my favourite tunes on one record - It’s the perfect Rare Groove Spectrum EWF single! We covered “Brazilian Rhyme” on Vol. 1, and you can catch the RGS version of “Runnin’” on the brand new Limited Edition Japan-only Pic Sleeve single (scroll for pics) - selected by none other than the legendary @dj_muro and @norihisamaekawa for @captain_vinyl and @tru_thoughts (pre order linkinbio)
#earthwindandfire
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y) (Elektra, 1992)
“…I reminisce so you never forget this, The days of way-back, so many bear witness the fitness.
Take the first letter out of each word in this joint
Listen close as I prove my point.
T to the R the O-Y, how did you and I meet?
In front of Big Lou’s, fighting in the street.
But only you saw what took many time to see
I dedicate this to you for believing in me…”
#peterockandclsmooth
Average White Band - Feel No Fret (Atlantic, 1979) When I hear the killer opening bassline of “Stop The Rain”, I’m instantly taken back to 1995 and Leena Conquest’s “Boundaries” - from a pre-streaming, pre-algorithmic playlist age when comps like ‘Rebirth Of Cool’ reigned supreme in cafes and bars. But the original track is a monster on its own - featuring as it does the always-on point Brecker Brothers on horns and the great Steve Ferrone on drums. As a Ferguson perhaps I’m partial to some Scottish Funk? I featured this tune on my recent “Trunk Of Funk” mix for Craig Charles on @bbc6music (linkinbio)
#averagewhiteband
Calvin Keys - Shawn-Neeq (Black Jazz, 1971) One of the finest releases on the Black Jazz label, which documented the new school of spiritually conscious Jazz in the early/mid-‘70s. A sound carved out by Post-Coltrane informed improvisers which also incorporated the Funk/Soul rhythms of the day. Guitarist Calvin Keys’ sound is steeped in the language and phraseology of the lineage of Jazz guitar - but placed within this dynamic, open-ended musical backdrop he soars free in a shining, tradition-breaking trajectory.
Original 1971 Brazilian pressing.
#calvinkeys
MPB4 - Self-titled (Elenco, 1966) The Elenco label was founded in 1963 In Rio de Janeiro by producer Allyson de Oliveira, and formative albums from the likes of Edu Lobo, Nara Leão, Quarteto Em Cy and Sylvia Telles can be found in their historic catalog. Not only is this music top shelf - but also the LP design aesthetic, which reminds me of Blue Note in its minimalist mid-century monochrome vibe. If you want to dig deeper into these early Bossanova, MPB and Brazilian Jazz records then look no further than the exquisite @souljazzrecords book compiled by Stuart Baker and @gillespeterson (scroll for pics)
#mpb4
Grover Washington, Jr - Feels So Good (Kudu, 1975) A decade before his breakout Smooth-Jazz hit LP ‘Winelight’ (featuring the evergreen and recent TikTok sensation “Just The Two Of Us”) saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. began a seven album run on the Kudos label that features some of the best - and most sampled - Jazz-Funk of the early-‘70s. The stone classic “Hydra” can be found here, but “Knucklehead” is a knockout too, and the whole album is worth visiting or revisiting if it’s been a while.
Japanese pressing.
#groverwashingtonjr
