Reality's rare jazz funk gem Disco Party gets recirculated by Jazzman

Reality's tough-to-find jazz funk gem 'Disco Party' has been legitimately reissued in a limited edition of 1500 copies. 

Here's the scoop...

Dr. Otto Gomez of Smokin' Shades of Black

It has always been part of Jazzman's mission to shine new light on music that went under-appreciated at the time of its original release. There are many varied circumstances which can cause an otherwise great record to not do so well - for instance, poor budget, marketing, promo and sometimes just plain old bad luck. Perhaps the most unjust circumstance involves the tax loss releases of the mid-70s - records made purely to cheat a few dollars out of the tax man.

Jazzman have already given legitimate release to albums that fell foul of the notorious '70s 'tax scam' practice – namely those by Sounds of the City Experience and Ricardo Marrero – and they continue with the first sanctioned reissue of  Reality's 'Disco Party' album thanks to an agreement with the surviving members of the band. Possibly the most obscure of all the obscurities in the TSG Records catalogue – a subsidiary of Lloyd Price's LPG Records – Reality's 'Disco Party' recording isn't actually 'disco' at all. In fact, it's a fully rounded excursion into mid-70s dancefloor funk and proto-disco-jazz, performed by a group of expert musicians at the height of their powers. Recorded in one long session in NYC, until now, bandleader Dr. Otto Gomez and the rest of his crew had never even heard the recordings they'd made almost 50 years ago. Indeed, none of the band even knew that their album had been released! 

Along with restoring the music, the folks at Jazzman have dug deep into the Reality backstory, interviewing Gomez and others to find out exactly who this unheralded NYC funk orchestra were and what happened to them before and after the monumental session laid out on this record. The liner notes to the Disco Party reissue tell the story of the TSG label and the 'tax loss' phenomenon, and delve into the history of the band from their humble beginnings as the Smokin' Shades of Black (!) to the present day. You'll find out what it means to record some brilliant music - only to have it taken away - and discarded. 

Get a copy of Jazzman's limited-edition reissue of Reality's Disco Party album via Bandcamp right here. Check out the album followed by a clip of Dr. Otto Gomez's follow-up "Love Junky" single recorded with Jeff Odom in 1987 and released by People's Potential Unlimited Records in 2009. 

Amanda Whiting vs. Freddie Hubbard

UK harpist Amanda Whiting cut a fine version of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower." Check out her new album After Dark. 

Jazzman offers a spiritual jazz tour through SteepleChase catalogue

Although nothing shockingly rare is uncovered, the SteepleChase volume is a solid set of uplifting swingers.

Here's the scoop...

Founded in 1972, SteepleChase Records is one of the most significant and prolific European jazz record labels. With a catalogue running to well over 200 titles, the Copenhagen-based imprint has recorded and released music from some of the greatest names in jazz, including Dexter Gordon, Andrew Hill, Archie Shepp, Jackie McLean, Clifford Jordan, Paul Bley, Cedar Walton, Lee Konitz, Horace Parlan, Nat Adderley, Chet Baker and Stan Getz. 

Starting out by recording visiting Americans when they performed at the legendary Café Montmartre, founder Nils Winther was encouraged to start the label by none other than the great Jackie McLean, who was the first artist to release a record on the new imprint. 

From there, Steeplechase rapidly grew into one of the foremost labels to document European jazz with all its distinctive originality and style. With a particular emphasis on recording front rank American artists who had chosen the expatriate life in Europe, Steeplechase was first in line to document the sounds of the greats as they developed in exile. 

Featuring in-demand tracks from the likes of Billy Gault, Johnny Dyani and Khan Jamal, and unearthing deep cuts from greats like Jackie McLean and Mary Lou Williams, Spiritual Jazz 11: SteepleChase pays tribute to one of Europe's most important jazz labels. Have a listen after the track listing. 

Various Artists – Spiritual Jazz 11: SteepleChase

1. Mary Lou Williams - Ode To Saint Cecilie 05:57

2. Billy Gault - The Time Of This World Is At Hand 07:14

3. Sam Jones - Jean Marie 06:56

4. René McLean - Aida 05:32

5. Jim McNeely - Tipe Tizwe 04:25

6. Johnny Dyani - Magwaza 13:07

7. Jackie McLean & Michael Carvin - De I Comalee A 11:42

8. Ken McIntyre - Miss Priss 06:16

9. Khan Jamal - Dark Warrior 06:27

10. Jackie McLean & The Cosmic Brotherhood - Camel Driver (2LP only) 08:54

11. Michael Carvin - Naima 08:28

Nat Birchall salutes Yusef Lateef on new album The Storyteller

The Storyteller: A Musical Tribute To Yusef Lateef is out September 13 on Jazzman Records. 

Here's the scoop...
With 20 years passing since his first foray into recorded jazz, Nat Birchall now ranks as one of the premier saxophonists of his generation. With several highly acclaimed albums in the locker, he now returns with his most ambitious project yet – a tribute to the legend that is Yusef Lateef.

“When Jazzman Gerald first mentioned to me the idea of doing an album as a tribute to the jazz giant Dr Yusef A. Lateef, my first thought was "Where on earth do I start?" Lateef was such a colossus of music, and his scope so broad, that I couldn't hope to begin to cover his musical universe. He was a master of the tenor saxophone, a master of the flute, a master ballad player, a master blues player. Not to mention his skills as a composer and arranger and of course his exploration and use of musical methodology and instruments from all over the world.“

“I’ve always been a great admirer of Lateef, and the challenge was intriguing, so I decided to give it go. We interpreted some of his own compositions (Brother John, Morning & Ching Miau) as well as some compositions by others that he made his own by careful arrangement and interpretation (Love Theme from Spartacus, Ringo Oiwake). I also wrote some original songs that, while certainly not written in his style, might be said to fall into his very broad approach to music making.”

“I also wanted to utilise as many different instruments as possible, something I hadn't explored too much until this album. So it was a nice opportunity to finally get around to playing some of the many small instruments I've collected over the years; the Turkish zurna, the mbira from Zimbabwe, the balaphon from Mali and the arghul from Egypt. We have also tried to use varied time signatures in the music, so we have songs in 3/4, 5/4 and 7/4 time, as well as the standard 4/4.”

“Ultimately the best music tells a story to the listener and takes them to places they might not have imagined themselves. Yusef Lateef certainly did that, and as such was a master storyteller.”

- Nat Birchall

You can pre-order a copy of Nat Birchall's forthcoming album The Storyteller right here. Listen to the lead track "Tales of Saba" below.

UK jazz rising star Nat Birchall discusses Cosmic Language

Hear the interview Barry Smyth conducted with Nat following the album's lead track "Man From Varanasi" 

Bajka's new single "The World" out Sept 9

Bajka reunites with Das Goldenes Zeitalter collaborator Max Weissenfeldt for her new Philophon seven-inch.

Bajka and Max Weissenfeldt (Poets Of Rhythm, Whitefield Brothers) first met each other when they both attended the same school in Munich, Germany. Their first recordings - under the name Das Goldenes Zeitalter - took place in 1998 and were subsequently released as a three-track 12" EP by Jazzman Records in 2006. Fans of 70s vintage Strata-East and Black Jazz recordings should check out Bajka's amazing performance on the epic "A Vision" from the EP which appears at the end of this post.  


Now, Bajka has found her way back to her musical family via the Philophon label, joining a growing roster of talented artists including The Polyversal Souls, Roy X, Guy One, Alogte Oho Jonas, Hailu Mergia, Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids, Jimi Tenor and Y-Bayani.

"The World" is driven by the heavyweight drumming of Max, counterpointed by the iridescent voice of Bajka. She reflects the glory of our world by showing the listener through her talent that she in person is for sure part of that glory. On the flip side, "Invisible Joy", Bajka gives her own interpretation of Philophon's own label anthem, which was previously the title track of The Polyversal Souls' celebrated debut album. Listen to Bajka's recording of "The World" below.

One For The Weekend: Nat Birchall

Here's "Song To The Divine Mother" off Nat Birchall's latest album Invocations on Jazzman Records. 

Happy Birthday Krzysztof Komeda!

Remembering Polish composer/pianist Krzysztof Komeda on his day with his fab score for Knife In The Water.  

Midweek Mixdown: Liam Large (Jukebox Jam)

Here's a brilliant mix of vintage Cubano corkers, calypso heat and swinging R&B blasters assembled by Liam Large (Jukebox Jam) for the excellent Sofrito site. If you like what you hear then you really need to grab a copy of Liam's stone-solid Jukebox Mambo (Jazzman) collection of 1950s-era Afro-Cuban flavoured R&B groovers on the double. Spoiler alert: It's going to place near the top of The Perlich Post's Reissues of 2012 list. Check out Liam's mix which duplicates only two tracks from his killer comp now available on iTunes

Red Callendar Sextette – Eee Ooo Voodoo*
Chuck Higgins – Blues 'n' Mambo
Pupi Campo – Que Te Parece Cholito
Facundo Rivera – Negra Mi Cha Cha Cha
Camille Howard – Hurry Back Baby
Clarence Garlow – New Bon Ton Roulet
Lucho Bermudez – Arroz Con Coco
Duke Of Iron – Calypsonian Invasion
Al Stephano – Mambo Indio
Zilla Mays – Calypso Blues
Alfredito & His Orchestra – Mambo From Mars
Machito – Dragnet Mambo
Noro Morales – Istanbul
Tito Puente – Guageo En Dominante
Ontarios – Lover's Mambo
Ray Charles – Mary Ann
Jimmy McCracklin – Beer Tavern Girl
The Pelicans – White Cliffs Of Dover
Combo Loco – Ven Mi Amore
Sylvie Mora – Taboo
Billy ‘Red’ Love – A Dream*
*From the ‘Jukebox Mambo’ compilation album 

One For The Weekend: Greg Foat Group

Bright Is The Sun by The Greg Foat Group

Helios repeat Mulatu magic with Lloyd Miller

Two years ago funky drummer Malcom Catto and his nine strong Heliocentrics massive joined  Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke on stage as part of Karen P's Broad Casting series at Cargo. The sold-out gig went so well, they wound up collaborating in the studio a few months later on a fantastic album which became the third volume of the Strut label's Inspiration Information project. Evidently, that was just the beginning of Catto's cultural collision experiments.

While critics were heaping praise on the Helios better-than-anticipated Mulatu collabo, Catto and crew were busily making plans for an encore adventure, this time involving legendary ethnomusicologist and mult-instrumentalist Dr. Lloyd Miller. The title of Jazzman's career retrospective of Miller's work, A Lifetime In Oriental Jazz, is quite apt as the longtime University of Utah professor has been exploring Middle Eastern music since his first trip to Iran in the late 50s. Long before the term "world music" was coined, Miller was traveling around Europe in the 60s, applying traditional Middle Eastern instruments, rhythms and scales in different contexts with fellow forward looking artists such as Don Ellis and Jef Gilson. Suffice it to say that Miller was well-prepared for a monumental throwdown with the Heliocentrics crew which is due out August 1 on disc followed by a vinyl release on August 31.
Here's what you're in for...

Fantasia, Part 1

1. ELECTRICONE
2. NAVA
3. MANDALA
4. SPIRITUAL JAZZ
5. BALI BRONZE
6. FANTASIA Pt. 1
7. MODALITY
8. SALENDRO
9. PARI RU
10. LLOYD’S DIATRIBE
11. FANTASIA Pt. 2
12. CHAHARGAH
13. SUNDA SUNSET










Gol-e Gandom by Lloyd Miller on Iranian TV 1965




Yèkèrmo Sèw by Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics



Yèkatit by Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics