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One of the hippest funky jazz combos of the 70s – stepping out here in their amazing debut for Cobblestone records! Catalyst had a groove that was unlike most of their contemporaries – a sound that was often jazzier than some of the tighter funk artists on labels like Kudu or Prestige, with some deeply spiritual leanings in the solos – but also a style that was still pretty tight and focused, not as far out as some of the headier groups on the Strata East label. There's loads of great choppy rhythms and tight-edged grooves on the record – thanks to Fender Rhodes from Eddie Green, reeds from Odeon Pop, bass from Al Johnson, and drums and percussion from Sherman Ferguson. Skip Drinkwater produced the session at Sigma Sound, and it's definitely got some of his hallmark appreciation of rhythm in the mix – on titles that include "Ain't It The Truth", "New Found Truths", "East", "Catalyst Is Coming", "Jabali", and "Salaam".

Another one of the great LPs by a band that was probably one of the best to grace the Muse label – and who have not really ever been reissued. Eddie Green, Odean Pope, Tyrone Brown, and Sherman Ferguson form the core of this funky fusion outfit, and they play in a beautiful way that mixes choppy fusion riffs with more soulful instrumentation. Their sound is really unique, and is an incredibly clear realization of a style that a lot of other groups attempted, but always managed to muddy up. Tracks on this one include "Maze", "Athene", "Mail Order", and "Shorter Street". Nice stuff, and one that we just about never see!

A great set on Porter Records featuring all the tracks from the first two albums by hip funky fusion titans Catylast – the complete Catalyst and Perception albums from the early 70s put together for Complete Recordings Vol 1! The first 6 tracks on the anthology are made up of the the first album, originally released on Cobblestone – one that finds Catalyst in a groove that was unlike most of their contemporaries. The sound was often jazzier than some of the tighter funk artists on labels like Kudu or Prestige, with some deeply spiritual leanings in the solos – but also a style that was still pretty tight and focused, not as far out as some of the headier groups on the Strata East label. There's loads of great choppy rhythms and tight-edged grooves on the record – thanks to Fender Rhodes from Eddie Green, reeds from Odean Pope, bass from Al Johnson, and drums and percussion from Sherman Ferguson. Skip Drinkwater produced the session at Sigma Sound, and it's definitely got some of his hallmark appreciation of rhythm in the mix – on titles that include "Ain't It The Truth", "New Found Truths", "East", "Catalyst Is Coming", "Jabali", and "Salaam". The remaining numbers feature the complete Perception album – another great one, with a lineup that included Billy Hart on percussion, Eddie Green on electric piano, and Odean Pope on tenor and flute. The real highlight, though, is Pat Gleason on arp, who adds a lot of cool dark moody touches to the group's fusiony playing. It's a stellar mix of soul jazz and edgy electric playing, far and away one of the best albums ever to be released on Muse at the time. It's been exceptionally rare over the years, too! Tracks include "Celestial Bodies", "Got To Be There", "Uzuri", and "Perception".

A rare treat by Gary Bartz – and very different than most of his other work! The album's a small group session – with Charles Mims on piano, Curtis Robertson on bass, and Howard King on drums – recorded with the feel of a looser soul jazz set on Black Jazz or Strata East. Mims' is great on piano, and working with Bartz, the pair come up with some wonderfully soulful numbers that have a very earthy feel. Tracks include "Ju Ju Man", "Pisces Daddy Blue", and "Chelsea Bridge" – plus a versoin of "My Funny Valentine", with vocals by Syreeta.

Lost late Stitt – and a much more compelling album than you might think. The album's got a nice underground feel, despite the fact that it's a tribute to Ellington – with a core combo that features Stitt on alto and tenor, Gildo Mahones on piano, Allen Jackson on bass, and Clarence Johnston on drums – all augmented by the Bill Finegan String Ensemble, who give the album a shimmering finish that brings out some nice moods in Stitt's solos. Titles include "Cottontail", "In A Mellow Tone", "Jeep's Blues", and "Prelude To A Kiss".

A rare treat by Gary Bartz – and very different than most of his other work! The album's a small group session – with Charles Mims on piano, Curtis Robertson on bass, and Howard King on drums – recorded with the feel of a looser soul jazz set on Black Jazz or Strata East. Mims' is great on piano, and working with Bartz, the pair come up with some wonderfully soulful numbers that have a very earthy feel. Tracks include "Ju Ju Man", "Pisces Daddy Blue", and "Chelsea Bridge" – plus a version of "My Funny Valentine", with vocals by Syreeta.

A great collection of modern soulful tunes – pulled together by the 2000 Black label, an imprint which takes its name from the famous Roy Ayers tune of the same name! Choosing Roy as a reference point would be a difficult thing to live up to for most other labels – but the 2000 Black posse do a damn good job of living up to Roy's legacy here, taking the positive spiritualism that infused his classic work, and using it to inform a whole new set of experiments in modern music. Roy's present on a remake of "2000 Black" done with MM Black, and the set is rounded out by 11 more like minded numbers: "Brand New Day" by Pavel Kostiuk, "Future Past" & "Space Junky" by Nubian Mindz, "Into The Now" by Seiji, "Terah" by Nu Era, "Sunnin" by Catalyst, "Groovesome" by Domu, "Nu Way" by Kuni, "Avenues" by Titonton, "Diamondstone" by Somatik and "The Mind" by Da One Way featuring Bembe Segue.

No coolin out here, as the set's a great batch of soulful jazz numbers from the legendary Muse label – filled with overlooked gems from the imprint's key 70s run – including a fair bit of gems that will set you digging for other treasures from the label! The style here is less straight jazz funk than a mix of soulful and righteous styles – some straight, some a bit more exploratory – all pretty darn wonderful, and proof that Muse could often hit some of the hippest territory in jazz when it was on the money. The set features 8 tracks in all – including "Cheeka's Dance" by Groove Holmes, "Vibrations" by Buster Williams, "Dawn" by Kenny Barron, "Angel Man" by Jimmy Heath, "New Found Truths" by Catalyst, and "Bumpin On Sunset" by Jimmy Ponder.