New Music Releases: Space Funk, The Jazz Defenders, Sonny Rollins

Space Funk – Afro Futurist Electro Funk In Space 1976 to 1984

Sun Ra was one of the first 20th Century artists to soar off in space, and George Clinton followed his lead with the Mothership in the 70s – and after that time, there was a surprisingly huge legacy of funk and soul artists who also headed for the cosmos – as you'll discover in this very unique set! The package is one of the deepest-digging soul collections we've ever heard from Soul Jazz – as most of the material here is pretty darn obscure – tracks that are from farther in the hinterlands of American soul at the end of the 70s and start of the 80s – and which are heavy on the sort of electrified touches it must have taken to send a funky spaceship out into the stratosphere! Many of these cuts have a sweet electro soul groove, which includes some nice keyboards and even a bit of vocoder work too – while others have a more old school funk approach, but still plenty of cosmic vibes in the mix. Titles include "Supersonic Space Lady" by Ernest Flippin II, "Make It Good To Me Baby" by Copperfield, "Break Out" by Rodney Stepp, "Computer Funk" by Ose, "Fly Guy & The Unemployed" by Ramsey 2C/3D, "Fee Fi Fo Fum" by Leo, "Bionic Funk" by Santiago, "Space Invaders" by Solaris, "Computer Power" by Jamie Jupitor, "Plastic" by Juju & The Space Rangers, and "Computer Games" by Frank Cornelius. CD features the bonus track "Electro-?" by Robotron 4.  ~ Dusty Groove

The Jazz Defenders - Scheming 

The Jazz Defenders produce music that is a modern soul-jazz slant on classic bebop and hard bop, effortlessly channeling the spirit of the golden Blue Note era of jazz. The band's debut album "Scheming" is released on Haggis Records, the label started by UK funk band The Haggis Horns. Jazz has always been a massive part of what The Haggis Horns are about so this marriage was the perfect fit. The Jazz Defenders were founded by George Cooper, one of the UK's most formidable jazz pianists, who at only 31 years of age has already amassed a comprehensive repertoire of working partnerships including Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, U2 and The Haggis Horns. In 2015 George set about choosing some of the finest musicians the UK has to offer to form a group that have since wowed audiences with their superb musicianship and virtuosity. For their debut album, The Jazz Defenders offer an original set of tunes written by Cooper and each member of the ensemble. Filled with as much playfulness and humor as it is of skilled mastery and musical prowess, "Scheming" is a delight for the ears. From the first to last track it's evident The Jazz Defenders thoroughly enjoyed making this album. There's a connective thread of irony throughout "Scheming", proving jazz doesn't have to take itself too seriously to be of the highest quality.

Sonny Rollins – Newport Jazz Festival 1973

Sonny Rollins is a true colossus. Championed by Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis as a young player, he quickly became one of jazz's leading voices on tenor saxophone. His tone, swing and almost superhuman creativity persisted from the mid 1950s for over 60 years. At the time of this concert, aged 43 and playing with a band of old friends and new talents, Sonny was at the height of his powers. This performance from the Newport Jazz Festival was captured by National Public Radio on June 30th 1973 and features the band responsible for Rollins' Horn Culture LP (1973). Fresh from a two year break in Jamaica and India where he studied yoga and eastern philosophy Sonny put together a band of old friends and new talents. Pianist Walter Davis Jr had known Rollins since his earliest days as a professional musician. A disciple of both Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, Davis worked with Max Roach and other leading lights of be-bop in the 1950s before landing the piano seat with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Bassist Bob Cranshaw first played with Rollins at the 1959 Playboy Jazz Festival and provided a solid core on his 1962 piano-less classic LP The Bridge. David Lee, a drummer from New Orleans was first spotted by Dizzy Gillespie who invited him to join his band in 1969. In 1971 he spent a year with vibist Roy Ayers before answering the call from Rollins. The youngest member of the quintet, guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo was given his break while still at university by Japan's foremost saxophonist Sado Watanabe. The music features Love Letters, a 1940s popular song by Victor Young and Edward Hayman; Sais, the centrepiece of the set and a rare example of Rollins on Soprano saxophone; he ballad There Is No Greater Love, first featured on Rollins' 1957 LP Way Out West and Alfie's Theme, originally written by Sonny for the famed Michael Caine film Alfie.