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

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

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

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