Spiritual Jazz 10 – Modal, Esoteric, & Deep Jazz From
Prestige Records (Various Artists)
A really loving look at a sometimes-forgotten side of the
Prestige Records label – a company that's famous for giving the world plenty of
hardbop and soul jazz in the 50s and 60s, but which also helped lay the
groundwork for American spiritual jazz to come! Long before Impulse, Strata
East, MPS, and other labels were working with the music – and even long before
Coltrane first started to soar into the cosmos – Prestige was letting its
musicians really experiment with unusual rhythms, extended solos, and even some
non-Western instrumentation – which resulted in a set of records that were
years ahead of their time, and which still sound pretty darn mindblowing all
these many years later! The package is a long-overdue entry in this hip series
from Jazzman Records, and will also have you looking at your collection of
older jazz in a completely new way – thanks to tracks that include
"Summertime" by Ahmed Abul-Malik, "Love Theme From
Spartacus" by Yusef Lateef, "Dorian" by Roy Haynes, "Rip A
Dip" by The Latin Jazz Quintet, "Warm Canto" by Mal Waldron,
"Organ Rounds" by Moondog, "Death & Taxes" by Walt
Dickerson, "Song Of Delilah" by Ahmed Abul-Malik, and
"Modette" by Roy Haynes – plus 70s tracks "I've Known
Rivers" by Gary Bartz Ntu Troop and "Peace" by Idris
Muhammad. ~ Dusty Groove
Junius Paul - Ism
A fantastic record from the contemporary Chicago scene – one
that both gives bassist Junius Paul his first showcase as a leader, and
underscores the richly collaborative energy in which the musician works! The
set was recorded at various points in the Windy City underground – with Paul at
the help of a shifting lineup that includes Makaya McCraven on drums, Corey
Wilkes on trumpet, Justin Dillard on piano and keyboards, Jim Baker on piano
and Arp, Isaiah Spencer on drums, Marquis Hill on trumpet, and Tomeika Reid on
cello – with most musicians also handling other instruments too, in a
continuation of an AACM legacy – on a record that's then edited by Makaya
McCraven, in the best International Anthem mode! The music is jazz, but of the
most forward-thinking type – and titles include "Ma & Dad",
"Fred Anderson & A Half", "Twelve Eighteen West",
"Georgia", "Spocky Chainsey Has Re-Emerged", "The One
Who Endures", "Baker's Dozen", "View From The Moon",
"You Are Free To Choose", "Paris", "Collant
Denier", and "Sprouts". ~ Dusty Groove
Free Soul TK (Various Artists)
A deep double-dip into the legendary TK Records catalog of
Miami Soul – and one that offers up a very different version of the label than
you might know from the hits! This 2CD set follows in the best tradition of the
Free Soul series from Japan – which means that the collection is filled with
unusual tracks that we might have missed otherwise, alongside other numbers
that we do know, but which seem to have a really special vibe in this setting –
an unpacking of the TK catalog from top to bottom, with a special focus on
warmer, more unusual bits of funk and soul. Titles include "Jolie" by
Lattimore, "Don't Waste My Time" by Jerry Washington, "Keep It
Up" by Milton Wright, "You Knock Me Out" by Wildflower,
"Cramp Your Style" by All The People, "I Can't Leave Your Love
Alone" by Willie & Anthony, "Street Love" by Spats,
"Concrete Jungle" by Little Beaver, "Good Good Lovin" by
Charles Johnson, "90% Of Me Is You" by Vanessa Kendrick, "I Got
Bills To Pay" by Johnny K, "You Can Be A Lady" by JP Robinson,
"Love Is A Simple Thing" by Leon Ware, "Island Girl" by Lew
Kirton, "Share Your Love" by Herman Kelly & Life, "Ain't
Nothin Wrong" by KC & The Sunshine Band, "What Would Your Mama
Say" by Facts Of Life, "Jazz Freak" by Paulette Reaves,
"Let's Make A Baby" by Funky Brown, "The Love We Had Stays On My
Mind" by Freddy Henry, and "How Long" by Brandye. ~ Dusty Groove
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