A beautiful 70s album from Harari – a South African group who already had a long legacy in music before this set, and who really seem to come together with a style that's even more sophisticated than some of their previous albums! The cover might make the record look a bit disco, but there's a richness going on here that's very different than just some throwaway tracks for the clubs – as the group touch on some wonderfully righteous themes at points, and deliver the groove with plenty of message in their music! The songs are all separate, but seem to work together strongly as a whole – really letting the album build up energy as the group take on titles that include "Genesis", "Senyamo", "Marabi", "Feel Hear & See", and "We've Got Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

Post-Tribe Records work from Detroit reedman Wendell Harrison – a set that was issued on his own Wenha label, and which is kind of an update of an older soul jazz mode! There's a fair bit of electricity in the instrumentation – guitar from Larry Barris, and keyboards from Harold McKinney and Pamela Wise – the latter of whom plays some nice vibes at times too! The rhythms mix both acoustic percussion and a few drum programs – the latter of which are used lightly, and more than balanced out with some warm solo work from Wendell on flute and tenor – gliding over the top in a mode that's maybe a more homegrown take on 80s fusion. Dennis Rowland sings on the record just a bit, but the set is mostly instrumental – and titles include "Fly By Night", "The Time Has Come", "Birth Of A Fossil", and "Witch Doctor Amos". LP, Vinyl record album

Later work from saxophonist Wendell Harrison – cut for his own Rebirth label in the years after his better-known work on Tribe! The sound here is quite different than the early days – still quite soulful, but in a more mainstream electric mode – one that has Wendell's tenor and flute gliding nicely over keyboards from Pamela Wise, whose work on the record is as strong as Harrison's. Marcus Belgrave also guests on one track – and while the record isn't an all-out bit of righteous soul jazz, it's also still a fair bit better than any mainstream soulful fusion that was coming out in the 80s. A few tracks feature female chorus vocals, and the album's got a romping little cover of "The Glamorous Life", plus the original numbers "Carnivorous Lady", "Love Overboard", "Ginseng Love", "The Wok", and "Possibilities". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful return to acoustic jazz for Wendell Harrison – after a string of more electrified albums in the 80s! Wendell's working here on tenor sax and clarinet – the latter of which he plays in these spiraling long lines that use the instrument in a searching, soprano sax-like manner – getting a sound that's really fantastic, and a depth of soul that really links the record back to the tradition of Wendell's work of the 70s. The group is great too – with players that include Kirk Lightsey and Pamela Wise on piano, Cecil McBee and Jaribu Shahid on bass, Doug Hammond on drums, and Robert Pipho on vibes – all working with Harrison on some creatively inventive tunes that sparkle with soulful energy! Titles include "Changing The Scene", "Merciful", "Fly By Night", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Spank", and "Tons & Tons Of BS". LP, Vinyl record album

The title alone is more than enough to win us over here – as it's a great Duke Pearson composition that turns out to be a wonderful showcase for the most lyrical modes of pianist John Hicks! That tune's the leadoff, and it really sets the tone for the record – a gently soulful set that has Hicks working in a wonderful trio with Ray Drummond on bass and Idris Muhammad on drums – both players with a warmly melodic feel, especially Drummond – who seems to create this resonance with John's piano. Titles include "Is That So", "Emily", "Yesterdays", "I'll Remember April", "Sonnymoon For Two", and "April Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful set of modern soul – and one of the few excellent albums on the Handshake label! Karin's a singer we know nothing about, but she's got a great approach for this boogie-styled set – one that's upfront and belting on the more uptempo numbers, but also wonderfully soulful on the mellower tracks – which actually stand out as some of our favorite on the record! There's a proud, full sound to the album – post-disco soul at its best, and handled with enough depth to match the best of the better-known modern soul of the time! Arrangements are by Dunn Pearson and Dennis Williams – always with a warm sound – and titles include "So Right", "Here I Go Again", "Under The Influence Of Love", "Ooh Baby Don't", "Last Night In My Dreams", and "Ready Ready Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Great 80s work from guitarist Calvin Keys – material that's different than his earlier sides for the Black Jazz label – and which shows Calvin really changing up his sound for the following decade! There's a slightly more inside feel to the recording, but the set's still dripping with soul – warm rhythms that provide a perfect foil for Calvin's open lines on guitar, played with even more deftness than we remember. Other elements include keyboards, percussion, and vocals on one track from Maxayn Lewis, who also sings a bit of backup too – and titles include the smooth groovers "Dantu" and "Love In Your Eyes", plus "Full Court Press", "Growing Pains", and "Bus Scene". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure set from Azar Lawrence – self-produced and self-arranged, in a smooth modern soul mode that's kind of an 80s extension of his work in the 70s for Prestige. There's a definite R&B groove on most tracks, and vocalist Coco Evans sings on 2 of the album's 8 tracks – and an undercurrent of bass heavy funk all the way through! Lawrence is on reeds, and other players in the group include Leo Nocentelli on guitar and James Gadson on drums. Titles include "Keep It Hot", "Your Love Is Keeping Me Alive", "Magic In The Night", "Shadow Dancing", "One More Time", and "Inside Stuff". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest records ever issued on Galt MacDermot's legendary Kilmarnock label – a selection of songs and poems by Harlem school children, set to music by Galt, and sung by vocalist Angela Ortega! Given that Galt's handling the music, you can bet that there's plenty of nicely funky touches at the bottom – supported by rolling bass, snapping drums, and nice use of organ. But the real charm of the tunes comes from the lyrics, which have a simple and to the point way of dealing with issues of racism, poverty, drugs, and other issues of the time. There's a very groovy feel here that almost reminds us of the best of Schoolhouse Rock at times – except that the lyrics are perhaps even more pointed, and surprisingly gripping after all these years. Titles include "Black Is Beautiful", "Drugs", "Slums", "Evil Hands", "Cry Sound", and "Set Us Free". LP, Vinyl record album

A soul record, but one with a fair bit of "something else" going on as well – and a set that was originally only issued on cassette, which might be why it was missed the first time around! Antonio L Newton, aka Tony Newton, has a long legacy in soul music – including work with Motown groups, especially the Miracles – yet by the time of this record, he clearly is off into territory that's all his own – using new technologies of the 80s to work in the studio all by himself, and serving up a set of keyboard-heavy tracks that really have a nice sense of variety! Some tunes have a very upbeat vibe – almost 80s sound library or soundtrack action material – while others are more mellow and meditative – soundscapes carved out of work on Roland, Yamaha, and Wersi keyboards. Titles include "Lento", "Odyssey", "Star Romance", "Novatron 2", "Breakthrough", and "Astro". LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a hypnotic image on the cover, and a very hypnotic sound within – all sorts of great guitar lines wrapped around basslines and percussion, percolating in a lean take on highlife – that earlier version of the material, before things got a bit more cleaned up and commercialized in the world music generation! Orlando's got a very down to earth approach – and works here with the group in a way that's very spontaneous – relaxed, yet grooving too, as they make their way through two side-long medleys of work. Side one features a mix that starts with "Festac 77" – and side two begins with "Adogunro Jaiye Jaiye", then runs into other grooves too. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key hybrids of reggae roots and West African grooves on the Nigerian scene of the 80s – a set that's maybe one of the strongest ever from Maxwell Udoh, and one that also has a righteous way of reaching across the Atlantic to unite and embrace two different musical styles! The rhythms and some of the production echo the digital generation in Jamaica – but the grooves often bubble and percolate with modes that are hardly what you'd find in Kingston – almost a refinement of larger 80s Nigerian styles, but with a more intimate approach that's perfect for the vocals of Udoh! Titles include "Survival Of The Fittest", "Come Let's Go Dancin", "Wait For Tomorrow", "I Like It", "Together", and "Adnama". LP, Vinyl record album

Late life genius from the mighty Ben Webster – a record that captures him in a live setting, and features much longer solo space than some of his other European dates of the time, which sometimes compact his work into shorter moments! The great pianist Tete Montoliu is working here on piano – with superb accompaniment from Rob Langereis on bass and Erik Ineke on drums – two players who always sound wonderful – and Webster's tone has that superb mature quality throughout – raspy, soulful, and completely charming, even in understated moments. Titles include "Set Call", "Ben's Blues", "Our Love Is Here To Stay", and "I Got It Bad". LP, Vinyl record album

A very soulful group from the Caribbean scene at the start of the 80s – one who work with some of the tropical soul of their contemporaries, but who also seem to echo some of the West African modes of the psych rock era on the mellower cuts too – a really unusual blend that definitely makes the record stand out from the pack! There's certainly plenty of groovers on the set – funky Caribbean cuts that have gotten the album a lot of attention over the years – but the group also are able to serve up a wider palette of sounds too, including a few nods to reggae now and then – on titles that include "The Rebels", "Dance With Me", "My Life", "All I Want To Do Is Live", "Tonite", "A Little More Love", and "Wonder How I Stayed Away". LP, Vinyl record album

Mad funky genius from Ghanian singer Pat Thomas – an artist who first rose to fame in the group of Ebo Taylor, and who's maybe even more fantastic here in the spotlight in the lead! The cover of the album maybe looks a bit more like a 60s photograph than the 70s stretch in which it was issued – and Pat's vocals often have an old school deep soul sort of approach too – sometimes mixed with jagged Afro Funk rhythms, other times in more laidback settings that allow him to flower even more as a singer! At points, there's almost some rocksteady organ work in the mix – which just adds to the charm of the record – on titles that include "I Need You Around", "Fishes", "Let Me Feel As I Am", "We're Coming Home", "La La La La La La", and "Let's Think It Over". LP, Vinyl record album

Freddie Hubbard is reunited with drummer Art Blakey – in a sweet little set that recalls the power of the Jazz Messengers during the stretch when Hubbard was with the group! Both players are in fine form – with Hubbard blowing shimmering trumpet lines over Blakey's full-on style of drumming – and the supporting cast is another key element in the success of the session – with either Benny Green or Mulgrew Miller on piano, Lonnie Plaxico or Leon Dorsey on bass, and Javon Jackson on tenor sax. Titles include "Arieties", "Feel The Wind", "Of Minor", "Up Jumped Spring", and "Big Foot". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare bit of indie jazz from the Bay Area scene of the 80s – but put together with a groove that's much more 70s overall! The group's headed by trumpeter Larry Douglas, and has a soaring, soulful groove that definitely owes a lot to the spiritual sound on labels like Strata East or Black Jazz – but which is also served up here with a confident style of its own – a mode that's brimming over with smart ideas and great intentions – especially on some of the numbers that feature a larger lineup! In addition to Douglas on trumpet, flugelhorn, and piano – the set also features Ronald Wilson on tenor and baritone sax, David Masucci on flute, Ray Williams on Fender Rhodes, Eric Vaughn on piano, Marcos Torres on timbales and percussion, and Kamau Seitu on drums and congas. The album's a real lost charmer – with a vibe that we'd liken to some of the best projects from Earl & Carl Grubbs at times – and titles include "Dedications (The Theme)", "Untitled", "Jammin' At The Boro'", "Illusions", "Traces", and "Dedications (The Variation)". LP, Vinyl record album

A mighty nice solo project from Fuzzy Haskins – one of the many side projects from the P-Funk side of the universe, from a time when it seemed like the influence of George Clinton knew no bounds! As with Bootsy Collins before him, Haskins steps away from ensemble for some great time of his own in the spotlight – yet still wraps things up in plenty of classic P-Funk styles – wicked basslines, slow-stepping drums, and some great guitar that trips things out in all the right ways – just what you'd expect from a guy named Fuzzy! The record's a great one to add to your collection next to other P-Funk related albums of the period – sets by Horny Horns, Parlet, and others – and tracks include "Sinderilla", "I Think I Got My Thang Together", "Gimme Back", and "Thangs We Used to Do". LP, Vinyl record album

John Hicks works in some really wonderful company here – a trio with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Idris Muhammad – both of whom really add a lot to the date! We're always big fans of Lundy's sound on bass – and his approach here has the same warm-rolling quality you'd find in his own best 80s work – really helping to push Hicks' lyrical agenda on the piano with a rhythmic support that's tremendous. Muhammad's pretty great too – definitely on the understated side of his talents, that nicely subtle sound he developed in the 80s – and Hicks, as always, is more than a cut above most of his contemporaries, and continues a long legacy of extremely soulful work on the keys of the piano. Titles include "Pas De Trois", "Hold It Down", "Airegin", "Coral Keys", "Ted's Delight", and "Blue In Green". LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic soul record from the post-Motown underground in Detroit – and one that also has ties to the Tribe Records scene of the 70s! William Odell Hughes is a great soul singer, with an ability to stretch out on a long, sensual line – a quality that's a bit in the territory of Marvin Gaye in the early 70s – and he works here with arrangements from reedman Wendell Harrison, who plays tenor and flute on the record, and also a bit of keyboards too – serving up this lean backing that really fits the open, flowing style of William's vocals – on tracks that are all nice and long, and very different than the usual indie soul of the time! There's a wicked blend of deep soul and slinky grooves here – a bit like the best from Mike James Kirkland – and titles include "Waiting", "Where Am I", "Cruisin", "I've Got Love On My Mind", and "Super Funk A Ga La Listic Freak". LP, Vinyl record album

John Hicks works in some really wonderful company here – a trio with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Idris Muhammad – both of whom really add a lot to the date! We're always big fans of Lundy's sound on bass – and his approach here has the same warm-rolling quality you'd find in his own best 80s work – really helping to push Hicks' lyrical agenda on the piano with a rhythmic support that's tremendous. Muhammad's pretty great too – definitely on the understated side of his talents, that nicely subtle sound he developed in the 80s – and Hicks, as always, is more than a cut above most of his contemporaries, and continues a long legacy of extremely soulful work on the keys of the piano. Titles include "Pas De Trois", "Hold It Down", "Airegin", "Coral Keys", "Ted's Delight", and "Blue In Green". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by The Innsmen, The Jagged Edge, The Olivers, The Nomads, Swamp Rats, The Brother L Congregation, The Laughing Kind, The Rumor, The Rationals, The Tidal Waves, The Outside In, The Dovers, Exchequers, and The Boss-Todes. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic set of killer mid-to-late 60s garage rock from the Motor City – with tracks by somewhat better known Detroit rockers Unrelated Segments and Tidal Waves – plus just as riveting material from The Unknowns, The Boys, The District Dix, The Couriers and The Lykes Of Us. Raw and rollicking tunes, plus bits of soul & r&b sax and rhythmic sensibility – some with gentle melodies and bits of strings, others rumbling, fuzzy and rebellious. A total blast! 26 tracks in all: "How Do You Do With Me" by The Boys, "Grits & Grease" by The Quintette Plus, "Night Walkin" by The Unknowns, "Farmer John", "Action" and more by The Tidal Waves, "7 And 7 Is" and more by District Six, "Just Tell Me" and more by The Couriers, "7:30 Said", "I'll Sing You A Love Song" and more by The Lykes Of Us, "The Story Of My Life", "It's Gonna Rain", "There's Gonna Be A Change" and more by The Unrelated Segments. CD

Groovy sounds from the New England scene of the late 60s – material that was originally issued on the tiny Stratford and Right Records labels, but which often has a bit of a nod to the British Invasion sound as well! Most of these groups are wonderfully tuneful, with a great sense of melody and harmony that makes many of the cuts different than more garage-tuned tracks from other US scenes fo the time – and although the production is definitely indie, there's a farther-reaching quality that really makes the tunes soar! The set includes a few tracks each by The Falcons, Tidal Waves, Outside Inn, and The 90th Congress – plus one more by Skid Mark & The Victims. CD