NEW RELEASES: FREE SOUL MEETS P-VINE JAZZ (VARIOUS ARTISTS); RHONDA THOMAS - VINYL DAZE; HYSEAR DON WALKER - COMPLETE EXPRESSIONS

FREE SOUL MEETS P-VINE JAZZ (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

Rare jazz gems from the 60s and 70s – all tracks from albums that have been reissued on the P-Vine label in recent years, but pulled together with an especially groovy focus for the Free Soul series! Most of these tunes are upbeat and very lively, and the strong presence of jazz vocals really links the style of the collection to the more familiar soul-based Free Soul titles – although a number of these tracks really stretch out into more spiritual jazz territory too! The CD features over 80 minutes of music – all of them great – and titles include "You've Got To Have Freedom" by Pharoah Sanders, "On A Clear Day" by Fred Johnson, "The One Who Needs You" by Vince Andrews, "Moves" by Doug Hammond, "Attica" by The Descendents Of Mike & Phoebe, "Sack Full Of Dreams" by Paul Humphrey, "He Loves You" by Janice Borla, "Feel Like Making Love" by Meta Roos, "Common Ground" by Judy Roberts, and "Dancing & Singing" by Billy Wooten. ~ Dusty Groove.

RHONDA THOMAS - VINYL DAZE

The title's a great one, given the old school vibe of the record – a quality that's enforced by the back cover's image of Rhonda kicking back with headphones, doing some deep listening on her collection of vintage vinyl! The set's got all the great elements we've always loved in Rhonda's previous records – that warm, rich vocal style that's rooted in jazz, and which makes Thomas one of the strongest soul singers in the contemporary underground – and production this time around is by Daz-I-Kue of Bugz In The Attic – who's nicely restrained, and really respectful of Rhonda's lead – yet still finds a way to make the whole thing bristle with the kind of energy we've come to expect form his own music. The result may well be the strongest album we've ever heard from Thomas – and titles include "Reach", "Castles Made Of Sand", "I Won't Tell", "Let's Go", "Show Me How To Love You", and "When You Know You Know". ~ Dusty Groove

HYSEAR DON WALKER - COMPLETE EXPRESSIONS

A landmark album of electric piano grooves from Hysear Don Walker – the keyboardist on some of Young-Holt Unlimited's best albums! This album's much more in a jazz vein than some of the Young-Holt titles – with Walker playing electric keys on slower funky numbers that burn along at a sweet Kudu or CTI-styled pace – kicking back and letting the keys really open up as the tunes progress – putting equal emphasis on rhythm and solo space as Walker goes for the groove in an amazing way! All tracks are originals, save for one nicely placed Beatles cover – and titles include "Hydel", "Fat Flower, Skinny Stalk", "Durham Queen", "Inner Face", and "Jade Silhouettes". ~ Dusty Groove