From Muriel Grossman’s Bandcamp site: “On the surface, Tyner and the Dead appear to come from different galaxies. But listen deeply, and it becomes clear: they were orbiting the same planet. Tyner’s playing was all about shape. He built modal infrastructure—riffs and voicings sturdy enough to ground the music, malleable Continue Reading
Spiritual Jazz
Yusuf Mumin – Journey To The Ancient
I might have missed it, but I never came across the term “spiritual jazz” in my youth. I was already struggling to understand the different styles of jazz, such as bop, cool jazz, big band, and Dixieland. If there is an album that truly embodies the genre, it is Yusuf Mumin’s Journey Continue Reading
Tassos Chalkias – Divine Reeds
Radio Martiko usually does a fine job remastering old shellac recordings and making them sound vibrant. This album by Tassos Chalkias is an incredible example. From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Epirótika! Greek psych folk as a soul medicine. A shepherd’s fever dream or spiritual jazz from an ancient world? The Continue Reading
Various Artists – The Congregation – Jazz Alliance International
Right Tempo Records is celebrating 30 years of existence, putting out some of the swankiest jazz imaginable, finely represented by the Easy Tempo and Tempo Jazz compilations, considered to be classics by connoisseurs of finer music. Imagine my shock to see that the label was finally releasing material on Bandcamp, Continue Reading
Takumi Moriya Black Nation – Takumi Moriya Black Nation
Takumi Moriya is a totally new name for me, but he is tearing up the dance floor with this title track that blends a soulful jazz with deep funk – perfect for any party.
Thandi Ntuli with Carlos Niño – Rainbow Revisited
This is my first opportunity to hear the voice of Thandi Ntuli, an amazing jazz singer out of South Africa. She collaborates on this album with one of Los Angeles’ leading lights, the inestimable Carlos Niño. The album will appeal to those who have been immersing themselves in spiritual jazz. Continue Reading
Various Artists – Inner Peace: Rare Spiritual Funk And Jazz Gems
As I have to stay home due to a nasty cold, I thought I’d explore some older releases. Our dear friends at Wewantsounds released this compilation of spiritual jazz in 2017, and it sounds as fresh as ever. Some of the giants featured on this album include Harold Land, Roy Continue Reading
Akira Sakata (坂田明) – a.k.a. Tombo (赤とんぼ)
Akira Sakata may be best known internationally for collaborations with guitarist and composer Jim O’Rourke and bassist Bill Laswell, but in Japan and among jazz aficionados, he’s also known as one of Japan’s best purveyors of spiritual jazz. This album is his latest, and it’s imbued with deepness and humor Continue Reading
Nicola Conte – Umoja
My friends, mark your calendars for June 30, 2023. This is the date that Italian DJ/bandleader/impresario and all-around man of good taste Nicola Conte releases his latest album under the banner of Far Out Recordings, who have never let me down on a single release all these years. As Nicola’s Continue Reading
John Patton – Soul Connection
Big John Patton was a legendary jazz keyboardist and master of the Hammond B-3 organ. This session, released by Nilva Records originally, was criminally hidden away, but thanks to Jazz Room Records, it’s getting not only a second life, but it’s led to a further appreciation of Patton’s abilities. A Continue Reading