James Mason - Rhythm of life

James Mason "Rhythm of life" Strange how things work, almost 25 yrs later, the minimalist approach to jazz and funk/soul as defined by the "acid jazz / new grooves" designation suddenly propels James Mason into the "visionary' category- he was doing these things back in the late 70's, as were Roy Ayers, Norman Connors, Lonnie Liston Smith, etc etc...... ( "these things" being Vamps and so -called "killer grooves" that take presidence over fully realized compositions. Sampling seems to me a major issue, it seems with many new fans for the evolution of this style ...) NO SAMPLES HERE, just some like minded musicians puttin down a heavy vibe and playing "off of" one another, "interacting" instead of "interactive", if ya catch mah drift......... JM proved a tough groover, adept at electric keyboards, funky guitar comping, and a "lead guitar" style very much in the 70's jazz/fusion mode. A crack band, featuring the impeccable drums of Michael Walden, and the etherial vocals of Clarice Taylor, (with some guest spots by Philip Woo *piano* and Justo Almario's saxwork)--the session percolates with some firey grooves which meet with some nice modal progressions/ chord voicings that sound far more soulful than much of the sampled fare, you "FEEL" the musics pour from the musicians , pure magic! "Sweet Power..." I believe is a dancehall hit now, and "Good Thing" , "Slick City", the lovely contemplative lyrics of "Dreams", I cant mention now each selection, but the cd runs track to track with pulsations& gesticulations , although the grooves can get a bit frantic on a few cuts.(the 70's were a hectic decade, hehehehe!) Some of the tunes just "die out" at the end as if not the final take,"unfinished" as i said before is the impression i have. ---- but HEY, cant have everything, can you? What has become of James Mason, I think I will take a look , meanwhile , take a "look/listen" to this cd. Cheers Jimbo

Prince Lasha & Sonny Simmons - Firebirds

"Firebirds" is essential modern jazz. This album should be mentioned in the same breath as modern jazz classics like Andrew Hill's "Point of Departure," Bobby Hutcherson's "Dialogue," and Eric Dolphy's "Out to Lunch." Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons have appeared together on record before -- Jimmy Garrison/Elvin Jones' "Illumination," and Eric Dolphy's "Conversations" and "Iron Man" -- and they are one of the dynamic duos of the 60s avant-garde. Any fan of the outward thinking jazz of the 60s will be remiss at not buying this album sooner.
Altoists Sonny Simmons and Prince Lasha are not household names, even in the world of 60s avant-garde jazz. But Firebirds is without a doubt one of the classics of the genre, forgotten and ignored because it wasn't recorded for Blue Note or Impulse.

The one bona-fide superstar on Firebirds is vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, whose playing here is terrific and especially loopy. Drummer Charles Moffett (best known for his work with Ornette Coleman's trio) is like a percussive trampoline and Buster Williams rounds out the group with his strong basslines.

But Simmons and Lasha are the ones who steal the show; their playing is melodic and joyous, alternating solos with animated dialogues. The music reminds me a little of Ornette's Golden Circle trio, but the playing is generally more "inside" and the vibes give it an Out-to-Lunchish flavor. "Psalms of Solomon" is especially amazing -- Moffett sets up a percolating groove with Lasha on flute and Simmons on English horn, but over 11 minutes it gets increasingly frantic and intense. "The Island Song" is very catchy, and on "Prelude to Bird" the two leaders pay tribute to Mr. Parker. The wild title track lives up to its name and may scare some hard bop fans, though it's quite tame compared to what Coltrane and Cecil Taylor were doing at the time.

Beyond the details of the music itself, these guys are unashamedly speaking their piece, succeeding marvelously. You won't hear any bs from Lasha and Simmons- these are two guys that speak through their horns, subsequently going far beyond the music. There is a deeper abstract truth in their artistic sensibility, (not to mention tons of soul.)

Dig the below poem by Sonny Simmons, Traveler.

"TRAVELER"

Nomadic WAS he, wandering
pour that secret place
moving and rowing
with a heart full of the miseries
of life. feeling that music
within moi. Never stop ---
reaching into the le unknown
realm of many unseen --
mysteries Le vast unfathomable
distance of Eternity.

Firebirds is highly recommended for any fan of freebop and the more melodic side of avant-garde jazz. It's also a lot of fun to listen to.

And since it's a limited edition, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't get it.

"Use Me" by Esther Phillips

AT LAST THIS AWSOME RELEASE IS LONG OVERDUE BUT FINALLY HERE IT IS...NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY MISS ESTHER HITS STRAIGHT AT THE HEART AND NEVER MISSES.
Support members are Burnard Purdie, Ron Cater, Maceo Parker, G Benson etc... includes song "Use me".

THE FINAL CUT GEORGIA ROSE SAYS IT ALL.....REST IN PEACE A TRUE DIVA......

Get Out of my Way - Cal Tjader

If you are looking for some true Latin Jazz roots music, than look no further. This is no doubt a classic in the field of Latin Jazz , bringing together two of the most talented pioneers and prolific players of their era. Featuring the fiery Eddie Palmiera on piano and Cal Tjader on vibes, this disc is a knockout. The two leaders play in unison as one voice on this set of Latin rhythms, one leading the other into a series of improvisational dancing grooves. On this disc you get all the original material with Rudy Van Gelder doing the engineering plus many songs not featured on the original recording from 1966. The disc can go from soft, slow, lush vibraphone led melodies and switch to quick , uptempo, percussion syncopated beats that sizzle. The percussion work is smoking and results in some bouncy music. Some highlights include Eddie Palmieri leading on "Unidos," setting the high standard for the fellow band members to match which eventually they do. Palmieri's banging on the white keys gives way to Tjaders vibes smoother than a baton pass by a Gold Medal winning Olympic athelete. Like a race relay team, each band member hands off the lead flawlessly resulting in a classic song and a winner. Like many jazz bands from the sixties that wanted a piece of the pop market this disc features a familiar melody in the song, "On a Clear Day." Recorded by many different artists during that decade(check out Billy Pauls version) this song sounds out of place on the disc, although it was "Latinized " on this version. The pairing of Palmieri and Tjader works best on songs like "Picadillo, " "El Sonido Nuevo" and "Los Jibaros. " This disc has a Cuban feel to it and is most evident on songs like "Los Jibaros" where the Afro rhythms make you want to move. Or take the very traditional Cuban sounding "Guijira en Azul" where the Cuban folk rhythms dominate and make you want to dance even if you're sitting. In terms of a historical snapshot it shows the early influence of Latin jazz on future generations of musicians. This is a beautiful collection of music for anyone that likes Latin Jazz. Recommended for Latin Jazz fans.

I've enjoyed several of the Blue Note "blue" compilations, notably the "Blue N' Groovy," "Blue Breakbeats," and "So Blue, So Funky" sets, and as great as they are, they CAN be a little uneven. "Blue Funk," on the other hand, is so rhythmically engaging, so absolutely cohesive and refreshing that it never, EVER gets old. The choice of tunes here is phenomenal. Some of these grooves, such as the friendly old-school shuffle of "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" may be permanently etched into your DNA, and you'll be a better person for it. In the end, there is so much flawless music out there to be grooved to, that the eclectic listener has precious little time for anything but the cream, and the CREAM is what's delivered here. "Blue Funk" is the best of the best of the best. For me, there is no better single-disc, various artist collection of jazzy instrumental funk, period. What a great collection!

Who Dun It? - Blue Mitchell 2. Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud) - Lou Donaldson 3. Cissy Strut - Big John Patton 4. Ease Back - Grant Green 5. Hunk O' Funk - Jack McDuff 6. Tic Tac Toe - Candido 7. Down Home Funk - Richard "Groove" Holmes 8. Cantaloupe Woman - Grant Green 9. I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I'll Get It Myself) - Grant Green 10. Don't Knock My Love - Ronnie Foster 11. If There's A Hell Below - Lou Donaldson 12. Bambu - Reuben Wilson 13. Family Affair - Bobby Hutcherson

BLUE NOTE RECORDS

"BLUE SERIES" & FUNK

I THINK THERE ARE 32 OR 33 TITLES TOTAL IN THE "BLUE SERIES".

I Have 26 OF THEM. PLUS, THE RARE PROMOTIONAL COMPILATION CD.

1. BLUE BREAK BEATS VOLUME 1

2. BLUE BREAK BEATS VOLUME 2

3. BLUE BREAK BEATS VOLUME 3 (PROMO STICKER ON FRONT OF BOOKLET, PROMO STAMP ON CD)

4. BLUE BREAK BEATS VOLUME 4

5. BLUE BRAZIL VOLUME 1

6. BLUE BRAZIL VOLUME 2

7. BLUE BRAZIL VOLUME 3

8. CAPITOL RARE VOLUME 1 (PROMO STAMP ON CD)

9. CAPITOL RARE VOLUME 2

10. AFRO BLUE VOLUME 1

11. AFRO BLUE VOLUME 2 (VG++)

12. BLUE N GROOVY VOLUME 1

13. BLUE N GROOVY VOL. 2/MOSTLY MODAL

14. SO BLUE SO FUNKY VOLUME 1

15. SO BLUE SO FUNKY VOLUME 2

16. BLUE BOSSA VOLUME 2 (VG CONDITION)

17. BLUE VALENTINES

18. BLUE BIG BANDS

19. LATINO BLUE

20. JUMP BLUE (COLUMBIA HOUSE)

21. BLUE BACHARACH

22. BLUE BOOGIE

23. MIDNIGHT BLUE

24. BLUE 45'S

25. RHAPSODY IN BLUE

26. BLUE MONK

27. THE BLUE SERIES SAMPLER

If you prefer your funk on the more jazzy tip, as opposed to a more "rock" or "pop" style, then this may be your new favorite compilation. "Blue Funk" is all about swirling b3 organ, greasy, TIGHT horn lines, shifting rhythmic funk patterns, flying bongos, tight, tight, TIGHT rhythm guitar, and the ALL-MIGHTY drum & bass GROOVE. Tightness really is key here, as it's the tightness that keeps things fresh and prevents the whole excursion from being weighed down by repetition and sloppiness, which is the downfall of some funk music. The funky format here also prevents too much decadent, ponderous soloing (while there is a place for such exploration, this is not it). The music on "Blue Funk" is about the beat, the forward-motion of the rhythm, and the sustained buoyancy of the groove. The groove here, by the way, achieves the enormous feat of being heavy and deep, as well as clean and crisp...simultaniously.

TOKYO CROSSOVER/JAZZ FESTIVAL 2008 Digest

One of Japan’s most accomplished young jazz groups, Sleep Walker will perform a live set that’s sure to be one of the highlights of Okino’s upcoming Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival. Singers Clara Hill, Diviniti and Navasha Daya are all slated to make appearances, along with fellow overseas club jazz luminaries such as German DJ Rainer Truby. From the lively domestic scene, keyboard phenom Jazztronik, jazz combo Quasimode, and heavyweight DJ Raphael Sebbag of club jazz DJ unit United Future Organization are also on the bill.

Offering a distinct alternative to Japan’s mainstream jazz festivals, TCJF shows that the young and trendy audience for club jazz may be as broad as the older, established audience for jazz itself. The event now attracts several thousand hipsters to Ageha, as well as sponsors like carmaker Nissan.
But the restless Okino’s great dream is to do an outdoor fest a la Fuji Rock or Nagisa. “I’m still researching it,” he says. “The problem is deciding on the right location. Fuji Rock and Metamorphose are in the mountains, while Nagisa is held downtown. I’m wondering which is better. I don’t know if my audience is willing to travel, so I’m not sure yet.”

In the lead-up to this year’s Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival, Okino also has a remix album coming out based on last year’s solo debut. For “United Legends” Replayed by Sleep Walker, he turned the traditional remix album on its head. Okino took the original tracks, on which he worked with an international cast of electronica producers and vocalists, and put them in the hands of Japanese acoustic jazz combo Sleep Walker.

Apollo Soul Festival

Apollo Soul Festival
Soul/Jazz/urban/Electronic Music...
Showreel of the past Apollo Soul Festival at Staatsoper Berlin feat. Jazzanova, Omar, Five Corners Quintet, Fat Freddys Drop, Benny Sings, Outlines, Nicola Conte and many more.
A wonderful event held every year in Berlin.
This Festival ROCKS!