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A nice, if a bit obscure, recording featuring Bluiett's compositions for a larger group, with a stellar lineup that includes Chief Bey, Michael Carvin, Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Abdul Wadud, Reggie Workman, Olu Dara, Don Pullen and others. There's a strong pulse and some heavy African influence here, buoying Bluiett's robust playing, and Dara's trumpet offers up some nice lines, which we don't hear often enough on recordings. Mining a vein that pulls from some of the other more overtly Afro-centric out jazz explorations of the time, this set stands up nicely alongside more groove and vamp oriented material like the Tribe records stuff from the same era. "Glory (Symphony For World Peace)" features a large group, "Nioka" is a duet with Don Pullen and "Oasis – The Well" is a septet side. LP, Vinyl record album

An album that was issued in the US, but which actually features excellent work that Abdullah Ibrahim/Dollar Brand recorded for the Gallo label in South Africa – the kind of edgier work that we often prefer next to some of his solo and trio material! The key force here is the horns – as one side of the record features work from Kippie Moketsi on alto, Basil Manenberg on tenor and flute, and Duku Makasi on tenor – and the flipside features a quartet with Manenberg again – a player whose deep tones really make for a perfect combination with Dollar Brand's snakey piano lines. Moketsi is great, as always – with that offbeat reed sound that always makes his performances so unique. Side one includes the extended groover "Black Lightning", and side 2 features a rendition of "Blue Monk", plus "Little Boy", and "Black & Brown Cherries". LP, Vinyl record album

1965 recordings, live at the Half Note – with Coltrane on tenor and soprano, McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – on long takes of "Impressions" and "Chim Chim Cheree" – plus an "Untitled Original". LP, Vinyl record album

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... LP, Vinyl record album

Great later work from Lonnie Smith – a set that's quite different than his initial Hammond material for Blue Note – but equally excellent in its own sort of way! The album has Lonnie playing both Fender Rhodes and organ – the former with this sweet, tight groove that's mighty nice – a bit like when Johnny Hammond or Jack McDuff touched the instrument on their own albums from the 70s – with all the chunky, funky qualities learned from their solos on the Hammond. Production is by Sonny Lester, and the groups here are relatively big, which gives a bit of a blacksploitation funk to the record – but part of the record also has a leaner group with Joe Lovano on tenor, blowing some beautifully extended solos – as well as George Benson on guitar. Titles include a great ten minute take on "Impressions" – plus "Apex", "Lean Meat", "When The Night Is Right", and "It's Changed". LP, Vinyl record album

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Lee Konitz leads a nine piece in this late 70s recording of standards with a few nice modern pieces thrown in. Featuring Jimmy Knepper, Rufus Reid and Billy Hart alongside Konitz,as well as a few less well known, but still very capable sidemen, like Burt Collins and Kenny Berger. 7 tracks in all: "If Dreams Come True", "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody", "Tea For Two", "Matrix", "Times Lie", "Without A Song" and "Nefertiti". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums ever – and every track is a masterpiece! The album was originally cut for the tiny Chiaroscuro label in 1977 – and it's got a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of – soaring, soulful, jazzy, and righteous – wrapped up in a blend that's never been done this perfectly again! James Mason's a player who's know for a bit of keyboard work with other artists – but here, he's really working as a collective power – bringing together a brilliant ensemble that work as one to hit some sublime sounds – much in the way that Roy Ayers could work some key magic with his groups at the same time, but with a vibe that's very different too. Players include Ayers associates Justo Almario on saxes and Philip Woo on piano – and a young Narada Michael Walden adds some excellent drums to the record – a lot more powerful and funky than on most of his own albums! Lead vocals are by Clarice Taylor – who's got this unique voice that really makes the record – proud, but sensitive at the same time too – and Mason plays lots of Fender Rhodes, polymoog, Arp, and a bit of guitar. Titles include the breakbeat classic "Funny Girl", the monster groover "Sweet Power Your Embrace", the funky "Slick City", and the massive "Free" – but every cut's a winner, and others include "Mbewe", "Rhythm Of Life", and "Dreams". This is the kind of album that makes us proud to be in business! LP, Vinyl record album

The second album by this fantastic 70s soulful fusion combo – a group who recorded for the Chiaroscuro label around the same time as James Mason – and who have an equally sublime sort of sound! The sound is almost a more electric reworking of spiritual styles from a few years before – songs that stretch out and open up, but never in a way that's too avant – yet also unlike any more commercial fusion at all! Instead, these guys draw a very careful, very unique sort of balance – one that allows both the acoustic and electric elements plenty of space, with one never dominating the other – in a lineup that features the great Ryo Kawasaki on guitar (mostly known for his Japanese fusion albums overseas), Phil Clendeninn on piano and keyboards, Marvin Blackman on saxes, Barry Coleman on bass, Bradie Speller on percussion, and Kevin Atkins on drums. The album's got a great sense of flow from track to track – and titles include "Sunshower", "Out Of This World", "Sun Thru Winter", "Blue Neptune", "Revelation" and "Downtown Sound". LP, Vinyl record album

A glorious return to the US by Frank Wright – playing here in a New York session that includes very soulful work by Reggie Workman, Kamal Abdul Alim, Philly Joe Jones, and Eddie Jefferson (of all folks!) Frenchman Georges Arvanitas sits in on piano, and the session is kind of to Wright what Shepp's early 70s large group avant soul recordings were to his career (if that makes any sense at all!) Tracks include "Long Way From Home", "Odeon", "No End To The Sun", and "November The First". LP, Vinyl record album

A limited 4 track, double 7" single package – featuring most of the best cuts off the self-titled album by Tarika Blue! The group's way different than the standard fusion acts of the time – as they blend together spiritual currents that allow for breezier instrumentation – sounds that take off to the skies, while still grooving at the core – thanks to an excellent lineup that also includes guitar from Ryo Kawasaki and soprano sax from Justo Almario! The core of the group features Philip Clendeninn on Fender Rhodes and Arp, with bass from Barry Coleman and drums from Kevin Atkins – and the record's got some very James Mason-like vocals at some points, from singers Dolores Smith and Irene Datcher. Titles include "You'll Be With Me", "Love It", "Truth Is The Key", and "Charlie". 7-inch, Vinyl record

"Dreamflower" is a beautiful cut from this legendary spiritual fusion combo – one that kind of steps out slowly, amidst Fender Rhodes and bassline – but which has this cool sparkling guitar that lights the way along the slow-stepping groove! The mighty James Mason plays guitar on "Jimi" – handing out plenty of fuzz, but in a way that's a lot more soulful and fitting the fusion mode than any Hendrix work! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Soaring jazzy genius from this legendary 70s group! "Revelation" is the kind of cut that reminds us why Tarika Blue was so different than the rest – as the tune's complicated, but still moves forward fantastically – topped with really great tenor from Marvin Blackman, and given just the right zing by the guitar of Ryo Kawasaki! "Blue Neptune" is more spiritual overall – a tune that has keyboards resonating with a soprano sax line – slow-building, and with very soulful energy! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Soulful fusion from the mighty Tarika Blue – a group who recorded for the Chiaroscuro label around the same time that James Mason gave the imprint his classic Rhythm Of Life album – recording here in a sound that's not only a bit like James, but which also features his guitar on a number of tracks! The group's way different than the standard fusion acts of the time – as they blend together spiritual currents that allow for breezier instrumentation – sounds that take off to the skies, while still grooving at the core – thanks to an excellent lineup that also includes guitar from Ryo Kawasaki and soprano sax from Justo Almario! The core of the group features Philip Clendeninn on Fender Rhodes and Arp, with bass from Barry Coleman and drums from Kevin Atkins – and the record's got some very James Mason-like vocals at some points, from singers Dolores Smith and Irene Datcher. Titles include "Jimi", "My Love Is So Free", "Love It", "Dreamflower", "Things Spring", "Truth Is The Key", and "Charlie". CD also features a few bonus tracks from the Blue Path album – including "Sunshower", "Revelation", "Downtown Sound", and "Sun Thru Winter". CD

The second album by this fantastic 70s soulful fusion combo – a group who recorded for the Chiaroscuro label around the same time as James Mason – and who have an equally sublime sort of sound! The sound is almost a more electric reworking of spiritual styles from a few years before – songs that stretch out and open up, but never in a way that's too avant – yet also unlike any more commercial fusion at all! Instead, these guys draw a very careful, very unique sort of balance – one that allows both the acoustic and electric elements plenty of space, with one never dominating the other – in a lineup that features the great Ryo Kawasaki on guitar (mostly known for his Japanese fusion albums overseas), Phil Clendeninn on piano and keyboards, Marvin Blackman on saxes, Barry Coleman on bass, Bradie Speller on percussion, and Kevin Atkins on drums. The album's got a great sense of flow from track to track – and titles include "Sunshower", "Out Of This World", "Sun Thru Winter", "Blue Neptune", "Revelation" and "Downtown Sound". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection featuring some of the best work by this classic 70s smooth fusion combo! Tarika Blue were labelmates to the James Mason group on Chiaroscuro – and the sound of this album's similar to Mason's best work: jazzy, souful, polished, but never lacking a depth and a commitment to grooving! Mason plays guitar on a number of tracks – and other players in the group include Justo Almario on sax, Ryo Kawasaki on guitar, and Irene Datcher on vocals. Titles include "Things Spring", "Love It", "Dreamflower", "You'll Be With Me", "Truth Is The Key", and "Out of This World". CD contains 2 bonus tracks. CD