Hidehiko Matsumoto & His Quintet - This is Blues

Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Rhythm & Blues

Although the title suggests 'blues' album, it's mostly a Soul-Jazz record featuring saxophonist Hidehiko Matsumoto supported by Ushio Sakai (org), Akio Mitsui (tp), Ikuo Shiosaki (g), Kimio Koizumi (b) and Masatsuka Nagashiba (ds). Hidehiko 'Sleepy' Matsumoto was one of the most greatest jazzmen from Japan, an iconic legend who was the first japanese musician invited to the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1963. He was an original member of the legendary japanese jazz quartet "The Big Four" formed by drummer George Kawaguchi, recording in particular "George And Sleepy" in 1969 and "The Big 4" in 1976. At the end of the seventies, he played within the "Inner Galaxy Orchestra" of japanese conductor, Bingo Miki. Titles include in particular jazz standard "St. Louis Blues", the Dixieland "Basin Street Blues", "The Touch" extracted from original soundtrack of 1954 French film "Touchez Pas Au Grisbi", and several original compositions by Matsumoto.

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Soul Square - Live & Uncut

Year : 2010
Label : Kif Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop

"Soul Square", aka the Drum Brothers is a French band formed by DJ and producers Arshitect, Jay Crate, Guan Jay, PermOne & Thomas Le Vexier aka Atom. "Live & Uncut" is a collaborative project as the Jazz Liberatorz did with their two jazzy hip-hop albums "Clin D'oeil" & "Fruit Of The Past", released previously on the same label. Titles include jazzy instrumentals (Jazz Lesson, That Swing) and various collaborations with worldwide rappers featuring Justis from Canada (Living The Dream), Blezz from Sweden (Trippin') or Voice (I.R.U) & Melodiq (It Is All In Your Mind) from US. "Live & Uncut" was included in the "Optical Axis" mixtape by DJ Ryow in 2009.

TRACKLIST : Live & Uncut Feat. Pfel & Atom / Living The Dream Feat. Justis / Take It Back Feat. Blezz / Know I'm Saying / It Is All In Your Mind Feat. Melodiq / That Swing / Change Feat. Justis / Get Together Feat. Melodiq & Elodie Rama / Trippin' Feat. Blezz / Fresh Air Feat. Justis & Mantis / I.R.U Feat. Voice / Love Break Feat. Fazz / Spades Feat. Hus Tha Kingpin - Get Into It Feat. Melodiq & Dajla / Jazz Lesson / Too Short

Lou Donaldson - Everything I Play Is Funky

Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Rare groove and the most funkiest LP from Lou Donaldson and his brilliant quintet  featuring Idris Muhammad &  Lonnie Smith (such as on Midnight Creeper) plus Blue Mitchell, Melvin Sparks and guests Ed Williams & Charles Earland who replaces Blue Mitchell & Lonnie Smith on Donkey Walk & West Indian Daddy. Titles include his best funk track Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On) written by Allen Toussaint, Over The Rainbow from movie The Wizard Of Oz by Judy Garland and four original compositions by Lou Donaldson.

Lou Donaldson_alto & baritone saxophone, vocal

Lonnie Smith_organ

Jimmie Lewis_bass

Melvin Sparks_guitar

Idris Muhammad_drums

Blue Mitchell_trumpet

01. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)
02. Hamp's Hump
03. Over The Rainbow
04. Donkey Walk
05. West Indian Daddy
06. Minor Bash

Various - Mélodie En Soul Sol (Paris 70's)

Year : 2002
Label : Kif Recordings
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz

Compilation which focuses on French Jazz including Heavy Funk & Big Band grooves extracted from various Music Library labels and others jazz albums, recorded between 1967-1976, and selected by DJ/producer Michaël Darmon, owner of Kif Recordings (Jazz Liberatorz). Titles include several compositions of Daniel Janin & J.C. Pierric, but also Claude Vasori, Vladimir Cosma, Martial Solal or Vincent Geminiani, two songs featuring Nancy Holloway (Sand And Rain & Hurt So Bad). Most of the tracks have been used in Hip-Hop such as "Black Night" composed by Daniel Janin sampled by The Beanuts on "Muchachacha" or "Trumpet Flower" (Daniel Janin) sampled by Nujabes on "Kodama (interlude)" extracted from Impression (Samurai Champloo Music Record).

DISC 1 : Daniel Janin Et Son Orchestre - Saramina / Daniel Janin - The Little Green Man Walk / Daniel Janin & Nancy Holloway - Sand And Rain / Vincent Geminiani - Ophis Le Serpentaire / Daniel Janin - Black Night / Daniel Janin - Hep Taxi / Vladimir Cosma - Black Flowers / Claude Vasori - Fantomaniac

DISC 2 : Daniel Janin Et Son Orchestre - Fat Fat Fellow / Nancy Holloway - Hurt So Bad / Martial Solal - Un Train Vaut Mieux Que Deux Tu L'auras / Vincent Geminiani - Insidieusement Les Elfes / Daniel Janin & J.C. Pierric - Goose Skin / Claude Vasori - Punching Ball / Daniel Janin & Robert Viger - Nobel Tower / Daniel Janin - Trumpet Flower

Candido - Beautiful

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Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Latin Jazz, Jazz
Style : Afro Cuban Jazz, Jazz Funk

"Beautiful" is the unique release for Blue Note records by the conga master Candido Camero including dynamic percussions, soul jazz backgrounds & latin-funk sounds, all together in a dance-oriented album. Produced and arranged by bandleader Joe Cain who contributes to the album with the title-track, "Money Man" and the killer groove "Ghana Spice" (parts 1 & 2). Titles include also cover songs from Richie Havens (I'm On My Way), Booker T & The MG's (Tic Tac Toe), Joe Garland (Serenade To A Savage) and Gamble & Huff (Hey, Western Union Man). "Beautiful" reissue was included in the Blue Note's rare groove series started in 1995.

Brother Jack McDuff & David Newman - Double Barrelled Soul

Year : 1968

Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

McDuff meets David 'Fathead' Newman on this great Atlantic record featuring Melvin Sparks, Leo Johnson,  Abe Blasingame and Danny Turner. Mc Duff played in group The Honeydripper in 1961 with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and guitarist Grant Green, launched the career of the young George Benson (The New Boss Guitar, 1964) while David 'Fathead' Newman played in Ray Charles band in the fifties and on Herbie Mann' Hold on I'm Coming (live in New York & Montreux Festival in 1972). Titles include But It's Alright by Soul Singer J.J. Jackson, nice version of Bobby Hebb' Sunny, the awesome pefect groove Duffin' Around and More Head by Newman.

Brother Jack McDuff_organ

David Newman_alto, tenor saxophone & flute

Melvin Sparks_guitar

Abe Blasingame_drums

Danny Turner_alto saxophone

Leo Johnson_tenor saxophone & flute

01. But It's Alright

02. Sunny
03. Esperanto
04. Duffin' Round
05. More Head
06. Untitled Blues

Freddie Hubbard - A Soul Experiment

Year : 1968
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Label : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

His third release for Atlantic label, a turning point in his career. He had discovered Rhythm'n'blues with James Brown, King Curtis or Aretha Franklin. An interlude in Hubbard Free Jazz & Hard Bop period before Red Clay (1970). As a sideman he played in particular with Art Blakey, John Coltrane & Herbie Hancock. Titles alternate Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk & Cool Jazz tracks featuring Grady Tate/Bernard Purdie, Eric Gale, Kenny Barron and Carlos Garnett. Produced by Joel Dorn.

Freddie Hubbard_trumpet

Billy Butler & Eric Gale_guitar

Jerry Jemmott_bass

Bernard Purdie & Grady Tate_drums

Gary Illingworth_organ

Kenny Barron_piano

Carlos Garnett_tenor saxophone

01. Clap Your Hands

02. Wichita Lineman
03. South Street Stroll
04. Lonely Soul
05. No Time to Lose
06. Hang 'Em Up
07. Good Humor Man
08. Midnite Soul
09. Soul Turn Around
10. A Soul Experiment

DJ Mitsu The Beats - The Excellence II : Selected Works

Year : 2010
Label : Jazzy Sport/P-Vine

Genre : Electronic, Funk / Soul, Hip Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Breakbeat

Another compilation of remixes by DJ Mitsu The Beats including various productions recorded for several labels among Jazzy Sport. Titles include only remixes except "Seven Bucks" by Elizabeth Shepherd (DJ Mitsu The Beats production) &  "Beats Of Luv" (exclusive track). Compiled, mixed & directed by DJ Mitsu The Beats, Taro Kessen & Masaya Kobayashi. 

TRACKLIST : Elizabeth Shepherd - Seven Bucks / Grooveman Spot feat. Count Bass D - Benzaiten Love / Steppah Huntah - I Don't Know / Frankie Valentine - Marinheiro So / The Louie Gee Ensemble - Scrabble / The Politik - Moonlight feat. Blu / Made In Japan - Babyspace / Mamas Gun - Let's Find A Way / DJ Mitsu the Beats - Beats Of Luv / TettoryBad - Ruff & Tuff feat. Randolph / Cro-Magnon - Eclipse / Sleep Walker - Brotherhood / Jazztronik - Listen To Your Love / Julien Dyne - Falling’ Down feat. Parks

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Doug Carn - Revelation

Year : 1973
Label : Black Jazz
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Spiritual, Vocal

Rare Soul & Spiritual Jazz with free improvisations by a versatile pianist (worked with Nat Adderley, Lou Donaldson or Stanley Turrentine) and featuring the voice of Jean Carn, his wife. He was member of Black Jazz Legacy Band for the independent Black Jazz label founded by the pianist Gene Russell. Titles include Naima by John Coltrane, Contemplation by Mc Coy Tyner and Jihad by Rene McClean. All tracks arranged, composed & written by Doug Carn except those mentionned.

Doug Carn_keyboards

Nathan Page_guitar

Walter Booker_bass

Ira Williams_drums

Jean Carn_vocals

Rene McClean_alto & tenor saxophone, flute, vocals

Earl McIntyre_trumpet

Olu Dara_trumpet & vocal

01. God Is One

02. Power And Glory
03. Revelation
04. Naima
05. Fatherhood
06. Contemplation
07. Feel Free
08. Time Is Running Out
09. Jihad

Jimmy McGriff - The Worm

Year : 1968
Label : Solid State
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Produced by Sonny Lester and first released on Solid State Records (later incorporated into the Blue Note Label Rare Groove series) featuring Grady Tate, Blue Mitchell, Bob Bushnell and Fat Theus. The Worm introduced Jimmy McGriff in Jazz Funk style. Titles include The Worm sampled by The Chemical Brothers for Delik (the drum beat), cover Think of Aretha Franklin and Duke Ellington' Take the “A” Train.

Jimmy McGriff_organ
Mel Lewis & Grady Tate_drums
Thornel Schwartz_guitar
Fats Theus_tenor saxophone
Robert Ashton_baritone saxophone
Danny Turner_alto saxophone
Blue Mitchell_trumpet
Bob Bushnell_bass

01. The Worm
02. Keep Loose
03. Heavyweight
04. Think
05. Lock It Up
06. Girl Talk Hefti
07. Blue Juice
08. Take the “A” Train

Jimmy McGriff - Soul Sugar

Year : 1971

Label : Capitol

Genre : Jazz

Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

One of the best hammond organ star influenced by Richard 'Groove' Holmes & Jimmy Smith,. Soul Sugar brings Jimmy Mc Griff into the jazz rock & funk scene. Soul Jazz & Funk with four original tracks composed by Jimmy Mc Griff, covers song of James Brown (Ain't It Funky Now), Stevie Wonder (Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours), the gospel Spirit in the Dark by Aretha Franklin, the pop standard Sugar Sugar from the cartoon series The Archie Show and Little Sister band' You're The One. Dig on It was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest in God Lives Through from their Midnight Marauders LP. Recorded at Bell Sound Studios & produced by Sonny Lester.

Cliff Davis_ flute & tenor saxophone
Murray Watson_trumpet
Johnny Board_baritone saxophone
Horace Ott_electric piano
Larry Frazier _guitar
Richard Davis_electric bass
Lawrence Killian_conga & tambourine
Marion J. Booker_drums

01. Sugar Sugar (Jeff Barry & Andy Kim)
02. Ain't It Funky Now (James Brown)
03. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (Stevie Wonder, L. Garret, S.Weight, L. Hardaway)
04. Dig on It
05. Bug Out
06. The Now Thing
07. You're the One (Sylvester Stewart)
08. Fat Cakes (R. Greenwood)
09. New Volume
10. Spirit in the Dark (Aretha Franklin)