• Music - Uncategorized

    Various Artists – Mainstream Funk: Funk, Soul, Spiritual Jazz 1971-1975

    January 28, 2022 - By 

    From the label’s Bandcamp site: Wewantsounds continues its collaboration with Bob Shad’s formidable label Mainstream Records, to present a selection of 12 turntable-friendly tracks recorded between 1971 and 1975 and showcasing the label’s superb blend of Spiritual Jazz, Funk and Soul by the likes of Buddy Terry, Sarah Vaughan, LaMont Johnson and Johnny Coles. Most of the tracks are released on vinyl for the first time since their original release in the early 70s. What makes this comp so incredibly tasty is the heavy spiritual jazz vibe crossing wires with Melodie’s that easily evoke singers like Marvin Gaye’s most crucial…

  • Music - Youtube

    Nigar Marjanova (Ника Марджанова) – Summertime

    January 18, 2022 - By 

    Now and again I stumble onto something pleasant, even if there is no CD or download available (yet) of the artist’s music.  Nigar Marjanova (see her Youtube channel here) is a jazz singer out of Baku, Azerbaijan, a country known for producing some rather fine musicians (think of Vagif Mustafazade and his daughter, Aziza).  I like that her voice is incredibly relaxing, a pleasure to hear.  If she has the opportunity to produce a proper album in the future, we’ll be happy to share it.

  • Music

    Samo Salamon – Dolphyology: Complete Eric Dolphy for Solo Guitar

    January 8, 2022 - By 

    Our friend from Maribor, Slovenia, the fine guitarist Samo Salamon, graces our blog with a new release.  This one is just him alone playing the works of Eric Dolphy accompanied by his guitar and, apparently, his cat adding in a meow or two. From Samo’s Bandcamp site: The idea of the project began by practicing at home alone during the many Covid lockdowns, rediscovering Dolphy’s music again. Furthermore, I was inspired to do this album by Miles Okazaki’s great solo guitar Monk project. We had a long talk this year via Skype and it was so great to hear how…

  • Music

    András Wahorn – The Wahorn Airport Live at the Contemporary Wahorn Club Vol. 1

    December 29, 2021 - By 

    wahorn · The Wahorn Airport live at the Contemporary Wahorn Club Vol. 1.   This is quite a peculiar album made by an old friend. András Wahorn had a storied history as the leader of one of Hungary’s most radical progressive rock bands, A.E. Bizottság, who released three albums of what they called disaster music.  He also released works for the now-defunct record label Tone Casualties which tended to drift towards more experimental and improvisational music mixed with electronics. Wahorn isn’t making disastrous music these days.  In fact, he’s managed to pull an album together informed by easy listening, lounge…

  • Music

    Kiyoshi Yamaya, Toshiko Yonekawa, Kifu Mitsuhashi – Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk ’76

    December 21, 2021 - By 

    Traditional Japanese instruments meet rare groove??  Yes, please! From Wamono’s Bandcamp site: Following the already classic Wamono A to Z trilogy, we are delighted to present an exceptional collection of jazz funk / rare groove tunes recorded in the mid-seventies at the Nippon Columbia studios by three giants of Japanese music: arranger Kiyoshi Yamaya, koto legend Toshiko Yonekawa and shakuhachi master Kifu Mitsuhashi. The album is slated for release on January 28, 2022.

  • Music

    Evgeny Ponomarev Quartet – Clockwise

    December 14, 2021 - By 

    I can’t say for sure if Evgeny Ponomarev’s 2021 release, Clockwise, counts as spiritual jazz, but it is holding it’s own as one of the best jazz releases of the year.  Ponomarev plays piano, and is solidly supported by a large cast, incuding: Andrey Polovko — tenor saxophone (1-6), soprano saxophone (2) Grigory Voskoboynik — double bass Peter Mikheev — drums (1-6), percussion (1,4) Pavel Ilushin — guitar (4) Peter Vostokov — cornet (2) Anton Gimazetdinov — trombone, tuba (2)

  • Podcast

    La Montaña Rusa 44.2021. Especial Pat Martino

    November 28, 2021 - By 

    blockquote class=”wp-embedded-content”>La Montaña Rusa 44.2021. Especial Pat Martino. Today is a rest day for me, so I spent it listening to my friends at Spain’s greatest jazz podcasts, La Montaña Rusa.  The program is dedicated to guitarist Pat Martino, who passed away recently. The tracklist: El Hombre (06:00). El Hombre, 1967. Prestige Records. Cisco (04:32). El Hombre, 1967. Prestige Records. Mr. PC (08:18) Gene Ludwig & Pat Martino Trio. Young Guns, 1968. HighNote Records. Baiyina (11:59). Baiyina (The Clear Evidence), 1968. Prestige Records. East (12:44). East!, 1968. Prestige Records. Desperado (08:00). Desperado, 1970. Prestige Records. What Are You Doing The…

  • Music

    Zhang Si’an (Djang San 张思安) – Hutong Jazz – 胡同爵士

    November 25, 2021 - By 

    Jean-Sébastien Héry is a French ex-pat musician living in China.  He has a very impressive body of work covering over 50 albums of music ranging from electro music to rock performed on traditional Chinese instruments like the zhonguran and pipa.  His work is singular, as there doesn’t seem to be anyone, either inside or outside of China, combining these elements together. His latest album covers ten evergreen recordings, including Herbie Hancock’s masterpiece, Cantaloupe Island, and My Favorite Things, made into a classic by the film The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews.  The album is charming all the way through.

  • Music

    Muva – Yum Cháak

    November 20, 2021 - By 

    Mexico’s new music scene is criminally underrated, which is a shame considering the immense talent hidden there.  Yes, of course, we love boleros, the folk songs out of Veracruz and Yucatan, and the insanely good psychedelic music of the 1960s and 1970s, the Rock-In-Opposition of bands like Nazca, Decibel and Banda Elástica, all worthy listening. Let us introduce you to a new group called Muva.  They evoke a cinematic aesthetic which combines atmospheres of many national cultures (think Scotland, Mali and Israel) surrounded by elements of rock, electronic, classical, tribal music and jazz improvisations.  It’s not quite any genre, but…

  • Music

    Rosie Turton – Expansions and Transformations: Part I & II

    November 17, 2021 - By 

    Rosie Turton came to my attention a while ago with her EP Rosie’s 5ive, which served as a stellar introduction to her work, but this latest album shows how incredibly expressive a trombone-led band can be.  So many players in London’s Nu-Jazz scene are leaving a mark that there will probably come a day when bands like Rosie’s and others operating today will be referenced in the same way fusion bands of the 1970s are. Truly expansive, a full sound, and utterly engaging.  What a fine sophomore release.