Norma Jean & Ray J. ‎- Raising Hell

Year : 2015/1974
Label : Superfly Records/Hep-Me
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Norma Jean is a gospel songstress associated with the arranger/producer Raymond Jones from New Orleans, both "outsiders" of the Soul Legends. “Raising Hell” is a rare dynamite deep-soul record out from the southern soul scene which was first released on the Hep-Me label in 1974. This "Holy Grail" was finally reissued 40 years later, by parisian record store Superfly Records, in collaboration of the japanese label Disques Dessinée. Titles include originals and covers from Dr. John (Right Time-Wrong Place) or Stax songwriter Joe Broussard (Everlasting Love), solos & duets with heavy funk (Raising Hell, I've Taken Over) and beautiful love songs (We Love Each Other).

MUSICIANS : Norma Jean - vocal - Ray J. - piano, trumpet, vocal - Walter Payton - bass - Herman Ernest - drums - Alvin Thomas - flute - Teddy Royal - guitar - Alvin Thomas - tenor saxophone - Clyde Kerr Jr. &  John Longo - trumpet

Fabiano Orchestra - Butterfly Island

Year : 2013/1980
Label :  Superfly Records/Franck R. Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion, Créole

Superfly Records reissue of rare French West Indies treasure recorded in Guadeloupe & mixed at Platinium Factory, New York. "Fabiano Orchestra" is a Jazz Créole-Fusion  group based in Guadeloupe featuring drummer/percussionist Jean-François Fabiano surrounded by Caribbean and prestigious american jazz musicians including Bunny Brissett (former chorist for the Sly&Robbie band), Clifford Jordan (flute), Hannibal Peterson (trumpet), Carter Jefferson  from Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (saxophone). Titles the killer jazz funk tune "Half Moon Bay", "Fo Ça Changé" & "Pointe Des Châteaux", both played in the typical Jazz créole style, the gwoka (Guadeloupe folk) "Créole", and the pure reggae rockers "Rastaman Rock" featuring Bunny Brissett.

Full Moon Ensemble Featuring Claude Delcloo ‎- Crowded With Loneliness

Year : 2013/1970
Label : Superfly Records/CBS
Serie : ATK
Genre : Jazz
Style : Free Jazz, Modal

Best known as the backing band of Archie Shepp during his live performance at Juan Les Pins Jazz Festival in 1970, "Full moon Ensemble" was formed by guitarist Joseph Déjean & drummer Claude Delcloo, the both main composers of the group. Claude Delcloo is also known as the founder of BYG Records & "Actuel", an iconic magazine, leader of counterculture in the late sixties in France. Deeply influenced by John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and the beat generation, the collective performed protest music including Free Jazz based on esoteric poetry from american poet Bob Kaufman. Titles include "Samba Miaou", a part of the "Tribute To Bob Kaufman" suite, selected  by JAZZMAN RECORDS for the "Spiritual Jazz Series Vol.3" compilation and by Digger's Digest for "Mobilisation Générale" compilation, released by french independant label, Born Bad Records.

Voices Of Darkness - Voices Of Darkness

Year : 2014/1974
Label : Superfly Records/Afrodisia
Genre : Soul
Style : Afrobeat, Funk/Soul

Some voices of Afro-Soul with a lot of James Brown's Funk expressions, by a cameroonian afrobeat combo based in Lagos, Nigeria, returned to the light thanks to the DJ Voodoo Funk. Spotted thanks to their live performance in nightclubs, "Voices Of Darkness" was born in 1972 at Douala, in the middle of Nigerian highlife era, formed around frontman Joe Brown (organ, guitar, lead vocal), Cel Anderson (bass, vocals), Emmanuel Ebot (congas, timbales, vocals), Paul Mony (drums) and later will be joined by nigerians Denise Kenneth (saxophone, percussions) & Emmanuel Ovo (trumpet, congas). Titles include only original songs composed by the group, all tracks written in english except "Bonjour Cherie" recorded in the french tongue.  

Zito Righi E Seu Conjunto - Alucinolândia

 

Year : 2014/1969

Label : Superfly Records/Hot

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : MPB, Bossa Nova

Zito Righi is an multi-instrumentalist, best known as saxophonist, arranger and band leader, in charge of three others albums known to date, recorded in the early sixties : "Sax De Ouro" (1961) ; "The Song Is You" ; "Ribamar & Zito Righi" (1963). Originally released on label Hot, this obscure gem from Brazilian Latin Pop Music was reissued by Superfly Records, itself based on a japanese re-press (Production Dessinée). "Alucinolândia" is a brazilian tapestry, not really an ode to psychedelia (as the title and the front cover suggest), than a sophisticated blend of versatile rhythms as well as Boogaloo, Bossa Nova, Samba & Mambo. Titles include instrumental tracks, various songs recorded in english & portugese featuring Sonia Santos, the classic of George Gershwin, "Love Here To Stay" and the djs favorites "Birimbau" (selected for Via Brasil compilation, 2001) & "Poema Ritmico Do Malandro"  All tracks recorded, led & arranged by Zito Righi.

Minoru Muraoka - Bamboo

Year : 2014/1970
Label : Superfly Records/King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Folk, Jazz Rock, Min'yō

Minoru Muraoka was probably the best known shakuhachi player (traditional bamboo flute), with Hozan Yamamoto & Toshiaki Yokota (Sound Limited, The Beat Generation). He was among the first to mix Japanese folk with popular music, playing in particular with Herbie Mann ("Surprises" & "Gagaku And Beyond" in 1976). "Bamboo" is a crossbreeding between jazz, pop and Japanese folk music, recorded with a large ensemble of traditional instruments among shakuhachi, koto, biwa, shamisen and taiko, all performed by the New Dimension Group, featuring percussionists  Hiromitsu & Kisaku Katada (Original Soundtrack From Lupin The 3rd), Masako Hirayama on biwa, Kimiko Yamanouchi on koto. The album is divided in two parts with  first side that showcases the traditional Japanese instruments (in particular the percussions), while the other side opens on Pop/Rock orientation including an other rhythm section, The New Emotions, featuring Akira Ishikawa (ds), Yusuke Higuchi (org), Sadanori Nakamure (eg) & Jun Suzuki (eb). Titles include jazz standard "Take Five" (Paul Desmond), three original compositions with the folk song "Nogamigawa Funauta", his masterpiece "The Positive And Negative" (most sampled Minoru Muraoka's song), the iconic "Soul Bamboo", and various pop cover songs from The Beatles to The Animals by Simon & Gartfunkel.