Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Various - Brand New Wayo : Funk, Fast Times And Nigerian Boogie Badness


Year : 2011
Label : Comb & Razor Sound
Genre : Soul, Disco
Style : Funk/Soul, Boogie

"A Brand New Wayo" brings togheter fifteen songs recorded during the post-afrobeat era, when the nigerian disco explosion occured from the late seventies to the early eighties. The evolution of nigerian society, the end of dictatorship and the short democratic period that followed, gave birth to a freedom artistic which contributed to the developpement of some creative emulation from nigerian producers & musicians. Selected by Uchenna Ikonne for his label "Comb & Razor Sound", all the songs fit into a own musical genre, called the ''Nigerian Boogie'', based on modern dance groove, served by the bass beat of disco funk and connected to the afro spirit (check below "Boys And Girls" ). Titles include songs from Mixed Grill, Murphy Williams, Joe Moks, Bayo Damazio, Martha Ulaeto...


DISC 1 : Mixed Grill - A Brand New Wayo / Kris Okotie - Show Me Your Backside / Murphy Williams - Get On Up / Joe Moks - Boys And Girls / Amas - Slow Down / Oby Onyioha - I Want To Feel Your Love / Dizzy K. Falola - Excuse Me Baby / Chris Mba - Funky Situation 

DISC 2 : Bayo Damazio - Listen To The Music / Martha Ulaeto - Music Alone / Segun Robert - Big Race / Amel Addmore - Jane / Honey Machine - Pleasure / The Stormmers - Love Or Money Emma Baloka - Let's Love Each Other 

Friday, December 1, 2017

Livy Ekemezie - Friday Night


Year : 2017/1983
Label : Odion Livingstone/Linic Major Production Records
Genre : Disco
Style : Funk/Soul, Boogie

The reissue of nigerian Holy Grail record "Friday Night", entirely arranged, composed and produced by multi-instrumentalist Livy Ekemezie. This "impossible to find" was originally released in 1983 and was never reissued, until the british label "Soundway" decided to bring it up to date, with the song "Holiday Action" (included in the Boogie Disco compilation "Doin' It In Lagos" in 2016). "Friday Night" is the epitome of the original Nigerian disco-funk sound that could be produced in the early '80s, focusing compositions based on powerful bass grooves and heavy keyboards sounds. Titles include the funky insane song "Get It Down", the boogie-woogie anthem "Friday Night" and the brilliant "Delectation" problably inspired from "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

The Magic Disco Machine - Disc-O-Tech


Year : 1975
Label : Motown
Genre : Funk/Soul
Style : Disco

The Magic Disco Machine was a collective of Motown's own producers including Jesse Boyce (of The Fame Gang, Dillard & Boyce) and Freddie Perren (the man behind the hit of Gloria Glaynor "I Will Survive"). Disc-O-Tech explores the disco movement nascent and reminds some of the best soundtracks from the Blaxploitation, featuring the Motown's studio musicians and its backing vocals bands : The Devastating Affair and The Sisters Love (formed on the Raelettes' ashes, the vocal group of Ray Charles). The collective produced two albums which seem especially designed for nightclubs & DJs. Some of the tracks were sampled many times, including the popular "Scratchin" by Hip-Hop artists such as RUN DMC in "Jam Master Jay" (1984) & DJ Shadow in "Lesson 4" (1991).

Friday, November 3, 2017

Various - Black Rio 2 ~ Original Samba Soul 1968-1981


Year : 2009
Label : STRUT
Genre : Latin, Soul
Style : Funk/Soul, Samba

Compiled by DJ Cliffy and released under the British Afro music Label "STRUT", Black Rio Vol. 2 brings together some of the best Brazilian Soul & Funk songs recorded from the late sixties to the early eighties. Some of which are belong to a new musical genre arising in the mid-seventies, called Black Rio, the meeting between typical Brazilian sound and the music of James Brown. The Black Rio matches to a style mixing Afro-Samba & Funk influenced by the Black Power movement, whose the most representative actors then were Miguel De Deus, Toni Tornado, Tim Maia, Emilio Santiago, Dom Salvador, Banda Black Rio (and its fisrt incarnation "Cry Babies") or Bebeto with the song "Princesa Negra De Angola" included in this compilation.



DISC 1 : Zeca Do Trombone & Roberto Sax - Coluna Do Meio / Renata Lú - Faz Tanto Tempo / Balanca Povo - Novo Dia / Guimaes E O Grupo Som Sagrado - Our Sound / Rubinho E Mauro Assumpção - Ta Tudo Ai / Emilio Santiago - Bananeira / Watusi - Oio Gere / Os Diagonais - Não Vou Chorar / Som Nosso - Pra Swingar / Super Som Lord - BR Samba  
  
DISC 2 : Pete Dunaway - Supermarket / Marilene - Sinal Vermelho / Avan Samba - Ibere / Azambuja & CIA - Tema Do Azambuja / Cry Babies - It's My Thing / Edson Frederico E A Transa - Bobeira / Bebeto - Princesa Negra De Angola / Sonia Santos - Poema Ritmico Do Malandro 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Yasuo Higuchi & Doremi Band - New York Cut


Year : 1979
Label : Warner Pioneer
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Yasuo Higuchi is a pianist, bandmaster and arranger, best known through his musical works produced for japanese television series & cinema. Yasuo Higuchi was especially in charge of famous compositions for animation music such as Osamu Tezuka's "Phoenix 2772" movie, "Tetsuwa Atom" (Astro Boy) and "Mobile New Century Gundam X" series. "New York Cut" is a condensed of pure jazz groove played by the Doremi Band, formed around guitarist John Scofield, bassist Will Lee, keyboardist Jorge Dalto, drummer Chris Parker and percussionist Dwight Gassaway. Titles include "To The New World" (Gilles Peterson's inspirations), "Uncle From Uncle", "Giraffe (In Memory Of Taki San)" played in a kind of flamenco style, "A Magazine On The Street" to the disco-funk accents, all composed by Yasuo Higuchi. Recorded at CBS Studio, New York.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Various - Saigon Supersound 1965-75

 

Year : 2017
Label : Saigon Supersound
Genre : Pop, Rock, Latin Jazz, Folk
Style : Latin, Funk/Soul

Saigon Supersound, the compilation which brings together some lost vietanmese pop songs recorded between 1965 and 1975, when US army was stationned in the South Vietnam, a period considered as the golden era of popular vietnamese music. Americans brought with them Rock 'N' Roll and Soul music to Vietnam, which influenced local artists and popular singers such as Carol Kim who integrated it to the standard vietnamese songs repertoire (melancholic and love themes), all developed in opposion of communist revolutionary music. Marked by the american way of life, some young bands were formed like the Dew Drop or The Dreamers. They performed in the G.I. Clubs integrating western rock as well as funk/soul elements to their music, but not only, their songs included also latin rhythms such as Rumba, Tango and Cha Cha Cha.


DISC 1Carol Kim - Tình Ta Như Lửa Đơm Hoa / Hùng Cường & Mai Lệ Huyền - Sống Cho Nhau / Duy Quang & Thái Hiền - Mộng Về Quê / Thanh Vũ - Nếu Mình Còn Yêu Nhau / Connie Kim - Lý Luận Tình Yêu / Hòa Tấu - Phố Đêm / Phượng Mai - Mùa Xuân Gửi Em / Khánh Ly - Diễm Xưa / Kim Loan - Căn Nhà Ngoại Ô

DISC 2 : Thanh Thuý, Văn Thanh, Hoàng Liêm & Thanh Mai - Đoàn Người Lữ Thứ /Kiều Oanh - Đêm Cuối Cùng / Thanh Lan, Châu Hà & Thanh Mai - Hát Mừng Xuân / Mai Lệ Huyền - Có Ai Trên Đời Mà Không Yêu / Vân Sơn & Thùy Dung - Chọn Mặt Gửi Vàng / Hoàng Oanh - Mùa Gặt Mới / Thanh Lan - Tình Đêm Liên Hoan / Phương Dung - Vòng Tay Giữ Trọn Ân Tình / Ngọc Giàu - Câu Vọng Cổ Chúc Tết 

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Erasmo Carlos - Erasmo Carlos E Os Tremendões


Year : 1970
Label : RGE Discos
Genre : Rock, Latin, Jazz
Style : Latin Rock, MPB, Bossa Nova

Another jewel of Brazilian pop music featuring Jovem Guarda group "Os Tremendões" which made Erasmo, a pop star in Latin America. Recorded in 1969, "Erasmo Carlos E Os Tremendões" is a transition album opening a new era for Erasmo, which embraces definitly the artistic freedom of the US counterculture. The album incorporates various musical genres from Rock ‘N’ Roll by Soul & Bossa Nova (to the Tropicália style), including compositions by the writers duo Erasmo/Roberto, some brazilian cover tunes revisited of Caetano Veloso (Saudosismo), Antônio Adolfo (Teletema) & Ary Barroso (the unofficial Brazilian national anthem "Aquarela Do Brasil"), plus originals songs, such as "Jeep" & "A Bronca Da Galinha" which bring the Funk. Arranged by Chiquinho De Moraes.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Spanky Wilson - Doin' It


Year : 2017/1969
Label : Soul Brother Records/Mothers Records
Genre : Jazz, Soul
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

The reissue of the "most wanted" album recorded by Spanky Wilson in 1969, including Soul Jazz tunes (Don't Mess With Bill), funk classics (You, Then I'll Be Happy), the DJ favorites "Sunshine Of Your Love" (cover of Cream) and "Light My Fire". Spanky Wilson is an american Soul & Jazz songtress from Pittsburgh who was backing vocalist for some great jazz names among others Duke Ellington, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy McGriff or Funk/Soul artists as Marvin Gaye and Sammy Davis Jr. After a long absence, she's back under the spotlights with the album "I'm Thankful". Released in 2006,  the album was produced by the famous British DJ, Will Holland, and supported by The Quantic Soul Orchestra

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Azymuth - Azimüth


Year : 2015/1975
Label : Far Out Recordings/Som Livre
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : MPB, Jazz Funk, Samba, Latin Jazz

One of the best brazilian jazz group whose the name "Azymuth" was inspired by a song from Marcos & Paulo Sérgio Valle, a jazz-funk trio formed in 1973 by Jose Roberto Bertrami (keys), Alex Malheiros (eb, eg) and Ivan Conti (ds, per). The group started as "Conjunto Azimuth" on the soundtrack of brazilian movie "O Fabuloso Fittipaldi" alongside Marcos & Paulo Sergio Valle, and the same year, as backing band for Marcos on his "Previsão Do Tempo" album. The group engaged in the post-tropicalia era with their self-titled debut album in 1975, mixing samba funk & disco beats, influencing in the same time, the nascent Black Rio movement. Always actives today, the band has gained an international audience with "Águia Não Come Mosca" album (released on Atlantic, first record of the band released outside Brazil), a noticeable appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival '77 and by participating to the U.S. tour of Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. Then, they moved to the United States in the early eighties, by signing on Milestone Records in 1979. Titles include their pop hit "Linha Do Horizonte", the songs "Manhã" (remixed by Peanut Butter Wolf in 2007), "Esperando Minha Vez" (sampled by Joey Bada$$ in "Amethyst Rockstar" - 2013) and the killer soul jazz/rock track "Periscópio".

Monday, July 3, 2017

Masaru Imada Trio + 2 - Green Caterpillar


Year : 1975
Label : TBM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Post Bop, Contemporary Jazz

Best known record of pianist Masaru Imada released on the legendary japanese jazz label TBM. "Green Caterpillar" is a jazz masterpiece featuring talented musicians including guitarist Kazumi Watanabe, bassist Isao Fukui (also called Isoo), drummer Tetsujiro Obara (members of Imada's main trio formation) and percussionist Yuji Imamura in addition. The album opens with a top of the groove "A Green Caterpillar", a 11 minute piece played in the jazz funk style including the iconic guitar play of Kazumi Watanabe. The other titles include "A Straight Flash", "Blue Impulse" and the flamenco tune "Spanish Flower" rather played in a modal style. All tracks composed and arranged by Masaru Imada.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Hiromasa Suzuki - High-Flying


Year : 2016/1976
Label : Deep Jazz Reality/Nippon Columbia
Serie : HMV Project Re:Vinyl
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

The crossover jazz masterpiece "High Flying" ws reissued for the HMV Japan stores by  the Yusuke Ogawa's Deep Jazz Reality. Recorded by master Hiromasa "Colgen" Suzuki (one leader of the post-jazz rock era during the seventies in Japan), "High Flying" was produced by Jiro Inagaki, the man who was the footbridge between Jazz Rock and Jazz Funk periods, with his group the Soul Media. Suzuki was an actives guest member of the Jiro Inagaki's band, collaborating on several records, in charge of arrangements and compositions on the "Funky Stuff" album recorded in 1974. "High-Flying" brings together some best players of the japanese Fusion scene as keyboardist Jun Fukamachi, guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto or drummer Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami. Titles include the disco-funk tracks "Scramble", "Straight Flash", "Between O&M" (reminiscence of the Herbie Hancock style including amazing bass line) and "Out Of Focus" featuring scat songtress Kayoko Ishu from Singers Three, selected by Kyoto Jazz Massive for their "Shibuya Jazz Classics - Kyoto Jazz Massive Collection" compilation. All tracks composed and arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

MUSICIANS : Hiromasa Suzuki & Jun Fukamachi - keyboards, synthesizer, piano - Jiro Inagaki - saxophones, flute - Akira Okazawa & Kenji Takamizu - electric bass - Fujimaru Yoshino, Kiyoshi Sugimoto & Masayoshi Takanaka - electric guitar - Shuichi Murakami - drums - Larry Sunaga - percussion - Kayoko Ishu - vocal

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Erasmo Carlos ‎- Carlos, Erasmo...


Year : 1971
Label : Philips
Genre : Rock, Latin
Style : MPB, Funk/Soul, Samba Rock

Brazilian rock masterpiece by the samba rock pioneer and eminent actor of the "Jovem Guarda", the scene wich popularized western pop & rock music in Brazil, during the late sixties. Influenced by the tropicália movement & the hippie counterculture, Erasmo Carlos has enlisted former members of psycheldic rock group "Os Mutantes" featuring lead guitarist Sergio Dias, drummer Dinho Leme and bassist Liminha. The recording sessions benefited of the arrangements from the brazilian masters Chiquinho de Moraes, Arthur Verocai & Rogério Duprat and studio guitarist Lanny Gordin. The album opens with "Noite Na Cama", a controversial ode to marijuana, written by Caetano Veloso for him. Other titles include cover songs of Jorge Ben (Agora Ninguém Chora Mais), Marcos Valle (26 Anos De Vida Normal) and orignal songs co-writted with his longtime partner, Roberto Carlos (Mundo Deserto, Ciça Cecilia...). Produced by the tropicália producer, Manoel Barenbein.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Marcos Valle - Viola Enluarada


Year : 1968
Label : Odeon
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Bossa Nova, MPB

"Viola Enluarada" is the second album from the Marcos Valle's pop era, tinged by a melancholic and sweet voice including baroque pop style, bossa nova materials and jazz expressions. Arranged by the brazilian maestro Dori Caymmi, Antônio Adolfo, Oscar Castro-Neves and Eumir Deodato (who played also piano), "Viola Enluarada" features some guests musicians such as Bossa Nova guitarist Roberto Menescal, and singers who lend their voice on several songs, the young Milton Nascimento on "Viola Enluarada" & "Requiem", the Jovem Guarda quartet "Golden Boys" on "Terra De Ninguém", and Valle's wife Anamaria on the catchy bossa song "Próton Elétron Neutron". Always written and composed with the collaboration of his brother Paulo Sérgio and produced by Milton Miranda.
 

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Peter Herbolzheimer - Soul Puppets (Unreleased Jazz Funk Library)


Year : 2011
Label : Sonorama
Genre : Jazz
Style : Latin Jazz, Jazz Funk

This compilation brings together various straight-ahead-Jazz tracks incorporating funk, soul & latin music elements. Recorded by the Orchester Peter Herbolzheimer between 1970-1975, most of the tracks were released on German music library labels including Altaxon. Peter Herbolzheimer was a german band leader, trombonist and arranger, member of jazz rock group "Free Orbit" and best known as the conductor of the trans-european Big Band, the Rhythm Combination & Brass. Founded in 1969, mostly actives during the seventies, Rhythm Combination & Brass has incorporated some prestigious musicians such as Art Farmer, dansih trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg or belgian guitarist Philip Catherine. The group has regulary performed in various german telivision shows and radio programs, has supported visiting american musicians in jazz gala such as Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Sammy Davis Jr., Dizzy Gillespie or european jazz like Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. In the late seventies the band toured with the biggest jazz stars such as Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Toots Thielemans or Grady Tate.

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Susumu Arima And New Creators - Eleanor Rigby/Rock & Drums


Year : 1972
Label : JVC
Serie : CD-4
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

Susumu Arima is a japanese arranger and pianist who worked for famous japanese folk rock band "Garo" and played alongside Kunihiko Sugano on "The More I See You" in 1972. During the 1972 year, he recorded various pop/rock cover albums for the Victor 4 Channel Serie (also called CD-4), including "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "The Dock Of The Bay" and "Eleanor Rigby" albums. Later, he recorded the contemporary jazz albums "Good Life" in 1976 and his piano solo project "Super Touch" in 1977. Supported by drummers Sadakazu Tabata & Chito Kikuchi, titles include the big western rock hits such as "Eleanor Rigby", "Hitchin' A Ride", "As The Years Go By" and the Motown's Soul classic "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me".

Friday, April 14, 2017

Osamu Furuya & The Freshmen - Disco Hit Number


Year : Late '70
Label : Homeros Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Funk/Soul, Disco

Osamu Furuya was a arranger, pianist and former member of the rockabilly group "The Sharp Hawks" from 1963 to 1965. Later called, "The Sharp Five", the group have played an active part in the japanese rock boom during the "Group Sounds" & "Eleki" era. Osamu was also a peerless studio player and composer for various japanese pop artists as the songstress Beverly Maeda & her backing band, the Linders aka "Lind & The Linders". In the late seventies, he was in charge of several pop & disco/funk covers albums series, whose "Disco Hit Number" is coming from, including songs by The Stylistics (I Can't Give You Anything), KC & The Sunshine Band (That's The Way), Donna Summer (Love To Love Baby),  Silver Convention (Fly, Robin, Fly).


Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Brazilian Tapestry Vol. 5 ~ The Sound Of Brazil '70



The compilation series dedicated to the essential sound of the Brazil '70, including Latin Grooves, MPB, Jazz Funk & Samba Rock featuring some eminent actors of the Brazilian Soul movement, called "Black Rio", such as Miguel De Deus, Toni Tornado, Banda Black Rio, Hyldon or Dom Salvador. Recorded between 1967-1977, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Som Três - Som 3


Year : 1993/1969
Label : EMI/Odeon
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova, Funk/Soul, Soul Jazz

Som Três is a bossa jazz trio, active from 1966 to 1971, who have offered their services as backing band for Wilson Simonal including "Vou Deixar Cair" (1966) and the "Show Em Simonal" (1967) albums. The group is lead by the renowned brazilian pianist, arranger & producer, César "Camargo" Mariano, who worked for Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, Maria Bethânia, Jorge Ben and international artists such as French Pop songstress, France Gall. César "Camargo" Mariano was also a eminent member of  the Sambalaça Trio (alongside Airto Moreira), one of the most influential jazz samba formation in Brazil. The two others members who formed the trio are bassist Sebastião "Sabá" Oliveira Da Paz on bass &and drummer Antônio "Toninho" Pinheiro, both came from another brazilian jazz samba formation, the Jongo Trio. "Som 3" is a crossover jazz album with latin boogaloo, pop and funk expressions including also the Soul Jazz style on "Blood-Mary" & "There's Gonna Be A "Showdown". Titles include classics soul from the Motown (For Once In My Life, California Soul...), the brazilian standards (Sé Vocé Pensa, Que Pena) and the killer funk "Homenagem A Mongo" composed by Camargo.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Tania Maria - Brazil With My Soul


Year : 1978
Label : Barclay
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Samba, Bossa Nova

"Brazil With My Soul" is the third album by Brazilian songstress and pianist Tania Maria settled in France since 1974. As her two pervious albums, "Via Brazil Vol. 1 & 2", it was recorded in France, at studio Hoche, Paris. "Brazil With My Soul" is blend of jazz, bossa with up-tempo samba including scat songs in the pure Ella Fitzgerald's style and piano jazz improvisations. Tania is surrounded by some of the best European Jazz musicians among others great bassist J.F. Jenny-Clark (sideman for Gato Barbieri, Michel Portal & Masahiko Togashi) and italian drummer Aldo Romano. Titles include original compositions "Passarella", "", "Eu Fui A Europa", "Ideias E Ideais" and Jobim/Buarque's cover song "Retrato Em Branco E Preto"

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Trio Mocotó - Trio Mocotó


Year : 2016/1973
Label : ViNiLiSSSiMO/RGE Discos
Genre : Latin
Style : Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, Funk/Soul

Trio Mocotó was formed in 1968, in São Paulo, by three percussionists : Fritz Escovão, Joãozinho Parahyba & Nereu Gargalo. Their music is the result of a Brazilian sounds fusion (samba & bossa) with the American pop, often reduced to the name of "samba rock". But Trio Mocotó is more a synthesis between various musical styles from funk to rock, passing by the jazz, than some samba rock. The trio are mainly known as the Jorge Ben’s backing band, during the zenith of his career (1969-1971), when they took part in his great recordings as the "Força Bruta" & "Negro E Lindo" albums. Titles include the opening track "Desapareça" (a powerful afro-brasileira-samba-funk song), a funny variation of the pop cover "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" (Gotas De Chuva Na Minha Cuíca), and the Latin Jazz songs "Palomares" & "Eu Tou Por For Da Jogada". 

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Edwin Starr - War & Peace


Year : 1970
Label : Gordy
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul, Psychedelic Soul

The Edwin Starr's masterpiece comprising the american counterculture anthem, the anti-war song about the Vietnam conflict. Released on Motown Records in 1970,  "War & Peace" is a magnum opus of Soul Music, an essential  record, a classic among the classics from the Berry Gordy's productions. From the beginning to the end, "War & Peace" contains no dead time, as evidenced the future standards included in the album, such as "Running Back And Forth" & "Time" (both composed by Edwin Starr), the cover songs "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", "California Soul" (Ashford & Simpson), and of course, the timeless "War", originally recorded by The Temptations and composed by the hitmakers duo : Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Native Son (Self-Titled)


Year : 1979
Label : Infinity records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Latin Jazz

"Native Son" is a Japanese fusion band formed in 1978 when the crossover jazz "boom" was at climax in Japan. From the late seventies to the mid-eighties, they had met an international audience, when they were regularly on stage in Europe (Montreux Jazz Festival '83) and in the USA. Led by pianist Takehiro Honda featuring saxophonist Kohsuke Mine, drummer Hiroshi Murakami and later joined by trombonist Hiroshi Fukumura, the group released from 1978 to 1987, seven albums whose the record hit "Savannah Hot-Line" in 1979. Their first album includes some Latin sounds ("Whispering Eyes" feat. Damião Gomes De Souza), caribbean styles (Wind Surfin), Funk elements (Super Safari) and soul jazz with "Heat Zone", a variation on "Spirits Flow" taken from "Another Departure" (1977). All tracks composed by Takehiro Honda.

MUSICIANS : Takehiro Honda electric piano, clavinet & Synthesizer Kohsuke Mine - tenor & soprano saxophones - Tamio Kawabata - bass - Motonobu Ohde - guitar - Hiroshi Murakami - drums - Damião Gomes De Souza - cuica

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Arthur Verocai - Arthur Verocai


Year : 2016/1972
Label : Mr Bongo/Continental
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Jazz Funk, Jazz Rock, MPB

One of the favourite Madilb's albums, the self-titled "Arthur Verocai" album has been sampled many times by various Hip-Hop artists  such as MF Doom, Common, Little Brother and more recently Action Bronson. Arthur Verocai is a brilliant brazilian conductor, pianist and guitarist, who has worked for several artists from the Tropicalia movement such as Jorge Ben, Marcos Valle and Gal Costa. Recorded at Studio Somil, Rio de Janeiro in 1972, this album incorporates the Brazilian musical direction taken by the Tropicalia, a skilled fusion of Jazz & Funk including some sound elements from the Blaxploitation music. Arthur Verocai has surrounded himself by prestigious musicians  including saxophonists Paulo Moura and Oberdan Magalhães from Banda Black Rio, the jazz drummers Robertinho Silva and Pascoal Meirelles, Serginho Do Trombone from Dom Salvador & amp; Grupo Abolição, supported by string orchestra. Titles include the beautiful folk song "Caboclo", the samba jazz "Seriado" featuring Célia, the funky "Presente Grego" and the jazz rock tune "Karina (Domingo No Grajaú)". Produced, arranged, directed by Arthur Verocai.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Miguel De Deus - Black Soul Brothers

 
Year : 2016/1977
Label : Groovie Records/Underground
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk

Portugese reissue of the first solo album of brazilian guitarist Miguel De Deus, originally released in 1977 on Underground, subsidiary of Copacabana label. Miguel De Deus was the founding member of the latin rock group "Os Brazões" which accompagnied Gal Costa on stage & Tom Zé on the Grande Liquidação album in 1968. With "Os Mutantes", the band was emblematic of brazilian psychedelic rock scene in the late sixties. In the mid seventies, Miguel De Deus oriented his music to the Funk style, becoming a initiator of the Afro-Funk movement later called "Black Rio", strongly inspired by James Brown & the Black Power spirit. Recorded in São Paulo, at the Reunido Studio, "Black Soul Brothers" includes the title-track reissued by Mr. Bongo in 2014, "Cinco Anos", "Mister Funk" and "Flata Louca" from "Black Soul Brothers" EP released on Copacabana records.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaça

Year : 2016/1977
Label : Mr Bongo/Atlantic
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco, Boogie Funk, Samba

"Maria Fumaça" is probably one of the best Brazilian Jazz Funk album ever recorded, recommended by Gilles Peterson. The name of the band came from by the Black Rio funk movement of the late seventies. "Banda Black Rio" was formed in 1976 by saxophonist Oberdan Magalhães & trumpeter José Carlos Barroso ("Barrosinho"), both former members of the Abolição group who accompanied the pianist Dom Salvador from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. It features Jamil Joanes (eb), Claudio Stevenson (eg), Cristovao Bastos (key, arr), Lucio Silva (tb) and Luis Carlos Santos (ds), supported by The Percussionists Of Rio De Janeiro featuring Luna, Nenê, Wilson Canegal & Geraldo Bongô. Often compared to Kool & The Gang and Earth Wind & Fire, the band rather plays a sound close to The Headhunters style, the backing band of Herbie Hancock during the seventies, and includes some Brazilian music elements. In 1978, the band was recruited as backing band for Time Maia on "Tim Maia Disco Club" and recorded a live album with Caetano Veloso entitled "Bicho Bale Show". Titles includes the Samba Funk "Marai Fumaça", the killer song Mr. Funky Samba and the Brazilian classics "Casa Forte" of Edu Lobo and "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro" of Ary Barroso.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Betty Davis - The Columbia Years 1968-1969


Year : 2016
Label : Light In The Attic
Genre : Jazz, Rock, Soul
Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Betty "Davis" Marbry presents her recordings sessions for Columbia, during the 1968-1969 period featuring Miles Davis as arranger and Teo Macero as producer. The first six songs were recorded in 1969 at Columbia Studios, New York with the famous Jimi Hendrix musicians Billy Cox from Band of Gypsys) & Mitch Mitchell from Jimi Hendrix Experience, Harvey Brooks from Super Session and the giants of Jazz : Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Larry Young and Wayne Shorter. The last three tracks were recorded in 1968 at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, with Hugh Masekela and featuring The Crusaders. Titles include unrealeased tracks, demos and alternate takes, written by Betty Davis except "Born On The Bayou" by John Forgety and  "Politician Man" by Jack Bruce.

MUSICIANS : Betty Davis - vocal - Billy Cox - drums - Mitch Mitchell & Harvey Brooks - bass - Herbie Hancock - keyboard - Larry Young - organ - John McLaughlin - guitar - Wayne Shorter & Wilton Felder - saxophone - Joe Sample - piano - Wayne Henderson - trombone

TRACKLIST : Hangin' Out (demo) - Politician Man (demo) - Down Home Girl (take 4) - Born On The Bayou (demo) - I'm Ready, Willing & Able (take 1) - I'm Ready, Willing & Able (take 9) - It's My Life (take 8) - Live, Love, Learn (take 12) - My Soul Is Tired - (take 9)


Friday, February 10, 2017

Lee Moses - Time And Place


Year : 2016/1971
Label : Future Days Recordings/Maple Records
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk, R&B

Lee Moses was a american R&B, Soul singer and guitarist from Atlanta. After a singles serie recorded for Musicor in the late sixties (whose the famous "Bad Girl" in 1967), Lee Moses released this unique album on Maple Record in 1971. This lost "Holy Grail" Soul record was unfortunately a commercial failure and was only first reissued in 2006. Recorded with his own backing group "The Deciples" featuring some members of The Ohio Players, "Time And Place" includes some heavy funk songs & beautiful tunes : "Got That Will", "Free At Last", "Hey Joe" and the magnificent version of the Flower Power hit "California Dreaming" from The Mamas & The Papas.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Aquarius Y Luiz Antonio - Brasil

 
Year : 2002/1973
Label : BMG/Ariola
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Samba, Bossa Nova, Jazz Funk

Japanese reissue of rare album from the brazilian group Aquarius featuring the brazilian singers Luiz Antonio & Erica Norimar. Originally recorded in Barcelona, the album includes the classics Bossa Nova songs from Antonio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell, Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento...Aquarius is led by the arranger, producer & drummer, Raymundo Bittencourt, consisting also in Octavio Bonfá Burnier (nephew of Luiz Bonfá), one of the best contemporary brazilian guitarist, member of the group "Burnier & Cartier". Erica Norimar sung for spanish jazz pianist Jordi Sabatés on the Ocells Del Més Enllà album. Produced by Raymundo Bittencourt & Octavio Bonfá Burnier.

 
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