Jazz Funk Delight

This one is for all the jazz funk lovers out there. For those of you who are mad for the frantic drum beats, funky bass, warm Fender Rhodes keys, flutes all over the place and sax and trumpets galore. This selection of rare tracks, known mostly to the record collecting community - stuff you'll probably never hear on the radio - is made up of the work of some of the most brilliant instrument players, composers and producers ever to grace the world with their music. A lot of these have been sampled by house and hip-hop producers, but deserve to be featured in you music library as stand alone tracks.

Many of these musicians are tied together in some way: Eddie Russ formed a band called Mixed Bag, with whom he recorded his first album "Fresh Out"; a jazz funk gem from 1974 which gave us the first track of this selection "The Lope Song". Larry Nozero, flutist and sax player was part of the Mixed Bag, and plays the flute on "The Lope Song". His following track "Tune for L.N." is a hypnotic trip, filled with wah guitar, mystical flute phrases and lifting choirs.

Then comes the wonderful "Windy C" by 100% Pure Poison, and its very distinctive drums/bass/guitar/rhodes intro, sampled by everyone, from Pete Rock to Saint Germain, to Nas... The whole song is an amazing pre-disco piece of soulful jazz from 1974, recorded for EMI in... Chicago? Detroit? No, in Germany by American servicemen on the leave.

Then come the Europeans: Vincent Gemignani and his sculptural jazz funk, from the utra rare album "Modern Pop Percussion" originally composed as a "pop" version of Shakespeare's Midsummer night dream, featuring the finest French session jazz players. Marc Moulin and his band Placebo come next with the track "Aria" from the 1971 album "Ball of Eyes". No need for any further introduction, it's at least the 4th time I put up a Placebo song on this blog.

"Party Time", from Roy Porter's album "Jessica" is another amazing jazz funk gig, and another song from this album already made it on this blog too :) Then Ray Bryant, and the banging piano and drums on "Up above the Rock" will have your heads nodding for more. More is coming of course, with 2 HUGE tracks: Frank Strazzerri "Cloudburst" and Kenny Barron "Spirits". Straight up Jazz Funk madness with all the Rhodes solos you can dream of.

One of my favorite pieces from one of my favorite producers David "the Axe" Axelrod follows: "Mucho Chupar", and Martial Solal "Un Drôle d'Escalier Roulant" (A Funny Elevator). Then some great tracks from Seatrain, Mixed Bag (again!), Jeremy Steig, a couple of tracks featured on the excellent "Dusty Fingers" series ("On the Hill" by Oliver Sain, and Sammy Nestico's "Shoreline Drive" - sampled by Krs1 on "Mc's Act Like You Know").

The last track is from one of my very favorite studio jazz producers: Janko Nilovic, which I've featured numerous times on this blog. "Xenos Cosmos" from the album "Rythmes Contemporains" is a baroque suite of jazz moves, with an amazing orchestration, mind-shifting choirs, and a cinematic dimension that will blow your mind away to finish off this musical voyage.

Track list is:
01. Eddie Russ - The Lope Song, 1974
02. Larry Nozero - Tune For L.N., 1974
03. 100% Pure Poison - Windy C, 1974
04. Vincent Gemignani - Insidieusement les Elfes, 1970
05. Placebo - Aria, 1971
06. Roy Porter - Party Time, 1974
07. Ray Bryant - Up Above the Rock, 1968
08. Kenny Barron - Spirits, 1975
09. Frank Strazzerri - Cloudburst, 1976
10. David Axelrod - Mucho Chupar, 1974
11. Martial Solal - Un Drôle d'Escalier Roulant, 1974
12. Seatrain - Flute Thing, 1973
13. Johnny Hawksworth - Jazz Rule, 1970's
14. The Mixed Bag - Shark, 1975
15. Jeremy Steig - Goose Bumps, 1975
16. Sammy Nestico - Shoreline Drive, 1982
17. Oliver Sain - On the Hill, 1972
18. Janko Nilovic - Xenos Cosmos, 1974

Get you groove on right here

Sambossa Jazz

I had such a great time putting the previous Jazz selection together, that I thought it would be a good idea to go through all the great collection of Brazilian music I have, and write a post about Jazz from Brazil. Sambossa is a contraction between Samba and Bossa, and reflects the flavor of Brazilian Jazz really well.

In deed, if Brazil is famous for being the birthplace of Bossa Nova, and the the homeland of Samba music - the history of Jazz in Brazil is also very rich. This selection features some of the great names in the genre, and will certainly surprise you if you are not yet familiar with them.

The list starts out with Rubens Bassini, a bongo player who recorded many albums as a sideman for João Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, Dom Salvador and only 2 under his name. Bongos don't have a very large place in Bossa Nova, Samba and MPB as bongos are more associated with Afro-cuban music. Rubens is the face of Bongo music in Brazil - and what a face!

Next are 2 songs by jazz pianist João Donato, from his 1962 album "Muito a Vontade". Donato went on to become one of the most prolific piano arrangers in Brazil, working with artist like Tom Jobim, Deodato, Sergio Mendes, Astrud Gilberto, and many others.
This album was his first on the piano and was recorded in just 2 days and most of the songs were composed on the studio.

The following title is by "Corisco e os sambaloucos" and is filled with percussions, a mellow samba groove and amazing vibraphone and trumpet solos that last for more than half of the song!

J.T. Meirelles, the father of Samba Jazz, arranger of the first Jorge Ben albums, talented saxophonist and flautist, leader of the legendary "Copa 5", passed away only a few days ago on June 4th. These two songs are from his 1964 album "O Som", and this post is of course dedicated to his memory.

The two following songs are form Milton Banana Trio. Milton Banana was a seminal Bossa Nova drummer, and worked in the studio with all the greatest names: João Gilberto, Jobim, Stan Getz, Johnny Alf, Roberto Menescal, etc... He recorded the two most historic Bossa Nova albums (Chega de Saudade by J. Gilberto, and Getz/Gilberto), and can be credited with inventing the Bossa Nova drumming style.

Waltel Branco's 1966 album "Mancini Tambem è Samba" is made of Henry Mancini covers, including the title "Meglio stasera", from the Pink Panther Soundtrack.

Then comes Sambalanço Trio. A jazz trio with a very pure yet personal style, composed of César Camargo Mariano (piano), Humberto Clayber (bass) and Airto Moreira (drums). Mariano later became one of the biggest arrangers in Brazil, and Moreira after moving to the US, became one of the most famous jazz drummers in the world and has worked with Mlies Davis, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Jack DeJohnette, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett, Al Di Meola, George Duke, the Greatful Dead, and Chick Corea (just to name a few).

Dom Salvador also is one of the biggest names in Brazilian music. Talented pianist, precursor in Samba Jazz, and Brazilian Funk, featured more than once already on this very blog, and currently living in New York City, where he still performs weekly.

The last few songs in this selection are far from being less good than the previous. Roberto Menescal is another founder of the Bossa Nova movement and a very talented guitarist. The two next outfits "Le Trio Camara" and "Mandrake Som" both recorded outside of Brazil. Le Trio Camara were a relatively unknown French trio, and they must have been listening to a lot of Brazilian music, which was very much in vogue in 1968, when they released their self-titled album. Inspired by the likes of João Gilberto, João Donato, Milton Banana, and Baden Powell, their bossa infused jazz is very lively, groovy and danceable. So good I put 3 songs from their album!!

So, if this selection of brazilian jazz rarities does not have you jumping on the table by now, no doubt you will be when you hear Mandrake Som. An obsucre Bossa-Jazz group that recorded this amazing album in Italy in 1975. The track "Reza" has a 2:30 mn percussion intro, and like I said, this will have you literally jumping on the table.

Closing track is Ed Lincoln's cover of "A Sack o' Woe" (Saca-Uo) from Cannonball Adderley's album "Mercy Mercy Mercy". Groovy organ action, Brazil style.

Tracklist is:

01. Rubens Bassini - Mirage, 1961
02. João Donato e Seu Trio - Naquela Base, 1962
03. João Donato e Seu Trio - Vamos Nessa, 1962
04. Corisco e os Sambaloucos - Volta por Cima, 1963
05. Meirelles e os Copa 5 - Quintessência, 1964
06. Meirelles e os Copa 5 - Solo, 1964
07. Milton Banana Trio - Minha Saudade, 1965
08. Milton Banana Trio - Garota de Ipanema, 1965
09. Sambalanço Trio - Tensao, 1965
10. Sambalanço Trio - Improviso Negro, 1966
11. Waltel Branco - Meglio stasera, 1966
12. Dom Salvador Trio - Freds Ahead, 1966
14. Roberto Menescal - Five Four, 1969
15. Le Trio Camara - Muito A Vontade, 1968
16. Le Trio Camara - Bia, 1968
17. Le Trio Camara - Noa Noa, 1968
18. Mandrake Som - Reza, 1975
19. Mandrake Som - Deixa Isso Pra La, 1975
20. Ed Lincoln - Sack O' Woe (Saca-Uo), 1968

Clique aqui pra baixar essa pérola, e disfruta sem parar ;)

Deep Jazz, hard and dark

Here it is, finally - my first attempt at compiling some of my favorite jazz pieces in a way that is both pleasant and coherent.

It starts with rather darker compositions, heavy on the baritone sax and low chords with some fine work from Charlie Mingus, Sahib Shihab, Roy Porter and Yusef Lateef, then lightens up a bit to some classic themes all executed in alternate versions, the moods speeds up a little bit with some great Bebop and finishes with some more soulful, mellow jazz.

The opening track is from the soundtrack of "A bout de Souffle" (Breathless), from French-Algerian pianist Martial Solal. Not only is Godard's movie one of my all time favorite, the score written for it fits the film so well, it almost tells the story...

Then the song "Moanin'", a frenzied tune by Charles Mingus and his big band, dark as the night and curiously so uplifting... It's followed by two Sahib Shihab tracks from the album Companionship. Shihab was an American saxophonist (baritone, alto and soprano) and flautist, who converted to Islam and then moved to Europe in the late 50s, tired with the racial tensions in the US. He lived in Danemark and recorded some of the best European modal jazz albums ever released. On these two dark, frantic and percussive tracks, he teams up with Francy Boland, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Woode just to name a few... A desert Island record for any serious jazz lover.

Steve Reid comes next, with "Free Spirits" from his 1976 album Nova. This is spiritual jazz, much less conventional in form and structure, and it can take a few listens to fully appreciate. His music is dark and introvert, and the man has an atypical and fascinating story: He played in Sun Ra’s Arkestra, was a Motown session drummer and backed James Brown at the Apollo! He was imprisoned during the Vietnam war as a conscientious objector and lived in Africa in the early 1970s.

Roy Porter's "Jessica" is a great instrumental theme by this talented L.A. drummer, still very dark, but funky and mellow at the same time. Incredibly rare recording from 1984, and worth every penny of it if you manage to find a copy.

Then comes a mix of more standard jazz pieces, such as Charlie Parker's rendition of "A night in Tunisia", written by Dizzie Gillespie (with Miles Davis on trumpet and Roy Porter on Drums). This one piece is considered by many a defining moment in Jazz, and a turning point leading to the Bebop revolution...

It is followed by some more Big-Band work by Clarke & Boland (Speedy Reeds), the beautiful "Snafu" from Yusef Lateef's masterpiece album "Eastern Sounds", and an amazing rendition of Duke Ellington's standard "Caravan" by Thelonious Monk.

More Classic themes follow, "Poiniciana" by Ahmad Jamal, "Nica's Dream" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (including pianist Horace Silver, who composed this gem), and "Giant Steps" by Coltrane. "Nica's Dream" is one of many Jazz standards dedicated to the baroness Pannonica "Nica" de Koenigswarter, who was a great jazz enthusiast and member of the prominent Rothschild family. Nica was a friend and patron of many of Jazz's greatest... Charlie Parker lived and died in her New York City Suite, and Thelonious Monk in her house in New Jersey.

Hank Mobley, Cannonball Adderley and Ramsey Lewis follow, and the list ends with two beautiful, soulful tracks: the short but mystic "Django" by Cal Tjader, and the melancholic "Life has it Trials", by harpist Dorothy Ashby, unfortunately the only woman to be featured in this selection.

Tracklist is:

01. Martial Solal - Duo (A Bout De Souffle), 1960
02. Charles Mingus - Moanin', 1959
03. Sahib Shihab - Om Mani Padme Um, 1960's
04. Sahib Shihab - Bohemia After Dark, 1960's
05. Steve Reid - Free Spirits, 1976
06. Roy Porter - Jessica (Instrumental), 1984
07. Charlie Parker - A night in Tunisia, 1946
08. Clarke-Boland Big Band - Speedy Reeds, 1963
09. Yusef Lateef - Snafu, 1961
10. Thelonious Monk - Caravan, 1955
11. Ahmad Jamal - Poinciana, 1958
12. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Nica's Dream, 1956
13. John Coltrane - Giant Steps, 1959
14. Hank Mobley - Gayle's Groove, 1970
15. Cannonball Adderley - Hippodelphia, 1966
16. Ramsey Lewis Trio - Look-a-here, 1963
17. Cal Tjader - Django, 1967
18. Dorothy Ashby - Life has its trials, 1968

Download here and enjoy :)

Euro Jazz Funk Madness

Back in the early 1970’s, the fusion of jazz with funk and elements of rock was a pretty big trend in North America. With the recent introduction of synthesizers and other electric instruments and with the increasing popularity of funk music; recognized jazz band leaders such as Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley and Donald Byrd started exploring new electronic grounds. Before long, their most noted band members started their own jazz-funk outfits and by the mid 70’s, the likes of Herbie Hancock and the Head Hunters, Chick Corea and Return to Forever and Joe Zawinul and Weather Report were drawing huge attention and had become big record sellers.

What was going on in Europe at the time? With the psych pop and Yé-Yé craze slowly fading and the Disco frenzy just a few years ahead… Was the talented European jazz avant-garde falling asleep? Hell no!!! A few guys back here were seriously vibing on the Fender Rhodes and chomping up some of the most groove infected drum breaks you'll ever hear.

In fact, they may have not had the same level of attention back in the days – but they have had as much impact on the hip-hop, trip-hop and electro scenes to come as their American counterparts.

Here is a selection of 20 super rare - super funked up European jazz grooves that you can't miss on. Please meet (if you don't know them yet):

Marc Moulin (from Belgium) and his band Placebo, (he also plays on the amazing track from Cos); a visionary force in European acid jazz, heavily influenced by Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock - who in turn has been highly influent for pop-synth and trip-hop artists in later decades.

Jean Claude Pierric and Francois Rolland who are the masterminds behind the Harlem Pop Trotters, Les Wanted, Minotaure and the legendary Godchild; Most of their music was not even commercially released at the time. It was production music, or library music, pre-recorded and sold via sound banks for usage in commercials or television programs! Other Library musicians featured in this selection include Michel Gonet, and Englishman Peter Milray, from the famous DeWolfe music Library.

The legendary band Cortex, led by Alain Mion & Alain Gandolfi and this track from their Album "Troupeau Bleu" - an indescribable blend of Jazz, funk, samba and batuccada with brilliant keyboard arrangements. The album was recorded in 2 days, and is almost impossible to find - aka Holy Grail for record collectors like myself (luckily it was recently re-edited).

World-class French drummer André Ceccarelli and other Jazz greats such as Martial Solal, Maurice Vander, Michel Sardaby and Romano Mussolini (who is no other that the youngest son of Benito himself), all feeling the funk pretty heavily on these tunes.

Spanish Jazz fusion artists Jordi Sabates and Pedro Ruy Blas, who add a very noticeable (and wonderfully appreciated) flamenco feel to their groove. Ever heard that from Mr Hancock?

Famous French composer Michel Colombier, who has worked with the worlds greatest, from Gainsbourg to the Beach Boys, to Quincy Jones and Madonna. On this track, from his 1979 self titled album, the personel is no other than:
Michel Colombier : piano, fender rhodes synthesizer - Lee Ritenour : guitar - Herbie Hancock : mini-moog solo - Jaco Pastorius : bass - Airto Moreira : percussion - Steve Gadd : drums. That says it all. I've never seen such an impressive line-up.


Tracklist is:
01. Les Wanted - Couidic-Kong, 1972
02. Ceccarelli, Chantereau, Padovan, Pezin. (C.C.P.P.) - Joris of lumina, 1975
03. Peter Milray - Time Machine, 197?
04. Harlem Pop Trotters - La Moto Verte, 1974
05. Michel Sardaby - Welcome New Warmth, 1974
06. Romano Mussolini - Mirage, 1974
07. Maurice Vander - Grand Rogue, 1974
08. Martial Solal - A Train is Better Than Two, 1974
09. Cos - Halucal, 1974
10. Jordi Sabates - Ocells del mes enlla, 1975
11. Cortex - Sabbat, 1975
12. Placebo - Balek, 1973
13. Pedro Ruy Blas & Dolores - La Ausencia, 1976
14. Martial Solal - Locomotion, 1974
15. Marc Moulin - Le Beau Galop, 1975
16. Minotaure Illustration - Yawn and Yell, 1972?
17. André Ceccarelli - Gang Process, 1975
18. Genevieve Paris (with André Céccarelli) - De Paris en Paris, 1975
19. Michel Gonet - Flower Dance, 1978
20. Michel Colombier - Sunday, 1979

This is like good wine. Kept in a cellar for about 30 years, finely matured, it just tastes amazing today (and similarly to Bordeaux, 1974 and 75 were pretty excellent years).


If you'd like to get a feel of this fine music, click here

If you'd rather go to Britney Spears' official website, please click here

Brasil Jazz Samba Lounge

And for post number 2, I have assembled another set of Brasilian super sweet tracks. These are in a nice, loungy groove, Jazz - Samba - Bossa Style, from 1966 to 1979.

The tracklist is:

01. Ed Lincoln - Cochise, 1966
02. Som Tres - Homenagem a Mongo, 1969
03. Nelsinho e sua Orquestra - Aqui é o Pais do Futebol, 1970
04. Ed Lincoln - Eu Nao Vou Mas, 1966
05. Johnny Alf - Orgulho de Bom Sambista, 1978
06. Antonio Adolfo e a Brazuca - Transamazônica, 1971
07. Antonio Carlos e Jocafi - Morte do Salve, 1971
08. Joao Donato - Cala Boca Menina, 1973
09. Brasil Aquarius e Luis Antonio - Agua de Beber, 1973
10. Sivuca - Ain't no Sunshine, 1974
11. Ana Mazzotti - Agora ou Nunca Mais, 1974
12. Helio Matheus - Briguenta, 1975
13. Antonio Adolfo - Cascavel, 1975
14. Wilson das Neves e Conjunto - Berimbau, 1976
15. Orlandivo - Onde Anda meu Amor, 1977
16. Azymuth - A Presa, 1977
17. Claudia - Rua 33 Numero Particular, 1979
18. Djavan - Nereci, 1978
19. Cesar Mariano e Cia. - Futebol de Bar, 1977
20. Claudia - Salve, Rainha, 1979


Listen with attention and tell me if you loved it!
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