Σάββατο 16 Μαρτίου 2024

Masabumi Kikuchi Quintet - End For The Beginning 1975 (Philips)

Label : Philips

Value :

One of the most soulful sessions we've ever heard from Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi -- a brilliant quintet outing that features some really great work on tenor and soprano sax! Kikuchi's piano is usually enough to grab our attention, but the album's got a great added bonus in the presence of Kosuke Mine on soprano sax and Hideo Miyata on tenor -- both players whose horns bring in some added sharpness to the date, and further underscore the spiritual elements in Kikuchi's music -- almost with the same mix of reeds and driving rhythms you'd find in the post-Coltrane work of Elvin Jones.

Taste :

Masabumi Kikuchi Quintet - Drizzling Rain

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By Electric Looser

Σάββατο 9 Μαρτίου 2024

Juan Pablo Torres - Cuba Disco 1984 (On The Rocks)

Label : On The Rocks

Value :

One of the most unusual albums ever cut by the legendary Latin jazz trombonist Juan Pablo Torres – and one of the grooviest, too – a special set that was recorded in Milan in the mid 80s, with backings by a sweet group who do a great job of blending Latin rhythms, clubby grooves, and just the right touch of jazz! Juan's on trombone in the lead – working with the Algo Nuevo group, which features the mighty Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Fender Rhodes, and other keyboards – plus trumpet work from Adalberto Lore, who balances out Torres' sound in a really great way! There's both a mix of electric and acoustic percussion on the set, and the groove is more 80s club than 70s disco – and also comes across with the style of some of the more unusual hybrids that you'd be likely to find on the Areito label during Juan's generation in Cuba.

Taste :

Juan Pablo Torres - Bermuda Triangle

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By Electric Looser

Σάββατο 2 Μαρτίου 2024

Ike Reiko - You, Baby 1971 (Teichiku Records)

Label : Teichiku Records

Value :

A really unusual record from early 70s Japan -- one that features vocals from erotic actress Reiko Ike -- done in a mode that's very similar to her sexy appearances on screen! And in fact, when we say "vocals", maybe "vocalizations" should be more the case -- as many of these tracks are sexy grunts, groans, and exclamations -- mixed with a bit of more conventional singing -- set to instrumentation that's groovy and jazzy, and which has some nice soundtrack modes in the styles -- all almost like an audio equivalent of softcore porn, with a quality that's enough to make Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin blush! 

Taste :

Ike Reiko - Giddiness

Ike Reiko - Love Slave

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By Electric Looser

Σάββατο 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2024

Akira Ishikawa - Back To Rhythm 1975 (Columpia)

Label : Columpia

Value :

Heavy funk from a hip Japanese combo -- one that features lots of drums and percussion from leader Akira Ishikawa, plus plenty of guitar, keyboards, and hard-riffing horns! Akira's taking most of his cues here from American funk of the early 70s -- work by Incredible Bongo Band, BT Express, and others -- but he often serves up the music with a fair bit of conga work at the front of the arrangements, in a way that takes familiar tunes and gives them a much rootsier, earthier kind of groove! The approach is unique, but totally great -- and the album's a funk album unlike anything else we can think of -- quite unusual even for the experimental Japanese scene of the time. 

Taste :

Akira Ishikawa - Love Is The Answer

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By Electric Looser

Σάββατο 17 Φεβρουαρίου 2024

Tony Joe White – Black And White 1969 (Monument)

Label :  Monument

Value :

Damn soulful work from Tony Joe White – exactly the kind of set that shows why he was so great at skirting both the borders of rock and soul music at the end of the 60s! There's a really fresh, new groove going on here – a vibe that shows an artist who's spent a decade drawing in all the best elements of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, with a slight touch of Nashville country at times too (no surprise, given the Monuments Records release of the set) – but also a more biting singer/songwriter ethos that really pushes the whole thing out to a much bigger rockish vibe! Drums are amazing – played by Jerry Carrigan with an especially funky quality on side one – and the tunes are a mix of great originals by White – many of which would be covered by others in years to come – plus some well-chosen covers, too. Tracks include "Soul Francisco", "Willie & Laura Mae Jones", "Polk Salad Annie", "Aspen Colorado", "Who's Makin Love", and "Scratch My Back".

Taste :

Tony Joe White - Whompt Out On You

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By Electric Looser

Κυριακή 11 Φεβρουαρίου 2024

Johnny Bristol - Hang On In There Baby 1974 (MGM)

Label : MGM

Value :

The first solo album from Johnny Bristol - a genius soul talent who did a bunch of great work for Motown as a writer and arranger, breaking out here on his own! Like so many other behind the scenes talents from the late 60s, Johnny turned out to be an excellent soul artist in his own right -- even though he only got to cut a rare few albums during the 70s -- and this debut album already has him emerging straight away as a fully-formed talent! The vibe is a great mix of Detroit and California Motown -- arranged by HB Barnum, and produced with a style that's tight, but still open and fluid too. Backings mix soulful strings with sweet harmonies -- and lots of the tunes have a great 70s mellow soul groove.

Taste :

Johnny Bristol - Woman Woman

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By Electric Looser

Δευτέρα 5 Φεβρουαρίου 2024

Cal Tjader - Demasiado Caliente 1960 (Fantasy)

Label : Fantasy

Value :

One of Cal Tjader's lesser-known Latin sessions from his Fantasy Records years -- a nice little cooker with some great arrangements from Eddie Cano, who also plays piano on the set! The album features two different groups -- one a more familiar Tjader quartet with Lonnie Hewitt on piano and Jose Lozano on flute -- the other a slightly larger group led by Cano, featuring Eddie on pian, Modesto Briseno on flute and alto, and Tony Terran on trumpet. Tracks are shortish, but plenty darn great -- and Cal's vibes get some great company from the piano and horn players on the date.

Taste :

Cal Tjader - Demasiado Caliente (full album)

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By Electric Looser