Funky madness from one of the greatest soundtrack composers of all time – the mighty Lalo Schifrin, one of the few guys who could fit bossa, jazz, electronics, and funk into one single tune – and make the whole thing come out like magic! If you only know Lalo from his more famous ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soundtracks LP)
One of Terry Riley's trippiest albums ever – a sublime batch of minimal grooves played only on a Yamaha organ! The album was recorded at the end of the 70s, but it's got a feel that's pure late 60s all the way – long lines on the keyboard inspired by Indian music, performed by Riley ... LP, Vinyl record album(Out Sound LP)
One of the greatest albums ever by one of the most compelling figures in Indian music! Ananda Shankar's been chronicled elsewhere and often on these pages – so by this point, you probably already know that he's a renegade pioneer who combined funky grooves with sitars and tablas, forging a ... CD(Global Grooves CD)
A great overview of the music of Japanese pianist Ryo Fukui – a key player on the scene in the late 70s, and one who really demonstrated that fluid, lyrical touch that made Japanese piano jazz so special at the time! It's a bit hard to put the genius of Ryo into words – as he's got a ... CD(Jazz CD)
One of our favorite Woody Shaw albums from his later years – and an album that's got the same joyous spirit and free soaring feel of his best 70s work on Muse – really soaring with a sense of life and freedom in a really great way! The core group on the album is the Tone Jansa Quartet ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Wonderfully folksy rock from this obscure Japanese group – an early 70s combo that included Harumi Hosono, years before his more electronic work! The sound of the album borrows a lot from the best of America's late 60s underground folk rock scene – and the production's an amazing blend ... LP, Vinyl record album(Japanese LP)
Very cool electronic work from Norman McLaren – sounds created at midcentury, to accompany some of his avant animated films – all done with a really playful quality that's a great match for the images on the screen! At a time when so many other electronic pioneers were moving into ... CD(Out Sound CD)
A beautiful performance from modern piano genius Cecil Taylor – one that was not circulated at the time of its mid-60s recording, but which stands as a crucial document of the shifting sound of Taylor's work at the time! The extended performance might come as some surprise to those who only ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
A classic indie cooker from Sugar Billy – a bit funky, a bit clubby – and a really great batch of grooves done in a pre-disco mode! The tracks are all pretty darn upbeat – somewhat warmer than the funk of Fatback or Kool & The Gang, but still with a nicely rough-edged feel ... CD(Soul CD)
Beautifully creative work from this hip Polish combo – a group who work in post-jazz territory that's similar to some of the more revolutionary work on the London scene in recent years – but one who've also got a special vibe that's very much their own! The approach here is maybe more ... CD(Jazz CD)
A grea overview of the early work of Curtis Mayfield – a set that not only includes some key cuts he recorded with The Impressions, but also a number of songs that Curtis penned for Jerry Butler after he left that group – as well as some other Mayfield tunes that hit big for other ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
A cool collaboration between West African drummer Miki N'Doye and a host of Norwegian jazz musicians from the 70s – a set that features plenty of percussion, as the jazz players double up on a variety of drums and other instruments as well! The vibe is great – definitely more African ... CD(Global Grooves CD)
An overlooked 70s funky nugget from Tribe – a very cool group who are equal parts funk and equal parts club – and who work in a mode that mixes up the best aspects of both! The tunes are mostly uptempo and grooving, but have a way of avoiding obvious disco moves – and instead ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
A massive set of music – and one that includes all the rare Palm label recordings made by reedman Byard Lancaster in Paris during the 70s! First up is Us – a set that features a really freewheeling trio brought together under the leadership of reedman Byard Lancaster – a group ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Great early work from jazz singer Al Jarreau – live tracks recorded in Washington, DC – and done with a laidback style that's a nice change from some of his studio work on Warner Brothers! The group is small – just a trio, with Fender Rhodes from Tom Canning – and Al's got ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
A silly little funk album – but a nice one! Soul Dog were an obscure little group who were trying for sort of a "funky trucker" kind of image – probably the only group in America trying to fit in that label! The band mixes tight funky arrangements with sort of a P-Funk sense ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
A great addition to the classic work of The Remains – the legendary hard-rocking Boston combo who recorded famously for Epic Records in the 60s! This set features all sorts of unissued material from the group – some non-US singles, demos, and extra cool studio rehearsal work – ... LP, Vinyl record album(Rock LP)
Wonderful work from the very young Dennis Brown – just a teenager at the time he recorded this material, but already singing with a wonderfully soulful style! The youthful qualities in Brown's voice make for a different feel compared to other rocksteady work of the time – and he's ... LP, Vinyl record album(Reggae LP)
Rare work from Henry Horne – an unreleased album from the early 80s, filled with rare boogie tracks and sweet 80s grooves! The group's an obscure Philly outfit who never managed to find fame – yet they've got a tight sound that's right up there with the best in the indie soul scene of ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
One of the most unusual albums recorded during the famous BYG/Actuel run at the end of the 60s – a piece that's billed as a "chamber opera", and which comes across in this mix of bold expression with a bit of free improvisation! The work features a mix of musicians and vocalists ... CD(Jazz CD)