Solar Visions

Larry Bright - Solar Visions Crosswind CWR-301 (1978)

Larry Bright's brilliant fusion drumming has earned him a place as one of the hottest jazz performers around, he now coaches drummers and has become somewhat of a celebrity recently with the release of a video drumming tutorial. His advanced rhythm patterns and explosive style have gained him acclaim as the preferred drummer for progressive jazz artists worldwide.

Larry has played with many leading musicians including Sun Ra, Carl Filipiak, Curtis Mayfield, John Lee Hooker and Ben E. King, to name a few.

He made a couple of albums, but most notably this effort is a stunning underground classic. Awe inspiring spiritual jazz coupled with smooth and complex fusion rhythms, dancefloor-friendly in places but super cool throughout - a real favorite of mine.

This cosmic funky fusion masterpiece was released on the tiny Pennsylvania independant Crosswind Records and has almost vanished into obscurity - typical!

1) Aura Part II
2) What About Me
3) The Big Apple
4) Aura Part I
5) Midnight Magic
6) Tomorrow's End
7) Solar Visions
8) Beauty And Grace

Steve Kuhn

Steve Kuhn - Live In New York Cobblestone CST-9020 (1972)

Brooklyn-born Steve Kuhn was fascinated with jazz very early in his life. He began classical piano lessons at age five and soon began to "improvise and syncopate the classical repertoire."

In his early teens, Kuhn studied with legendary teacher Margaret Chaloff who schooled him in the "Russian Technique", an invaluable tool for tone production and projection. Chaloff's son, Serge, baritone saxophonist for Woody Herman, hired the 13 year-old pianist to play in his group. Throughout his teens Kuhn continued to play in Boston jazz clubs with visiting celebrities; Coleman Hawkins, Chet Baker and Vic Dickenson.

After graduation from Harvard College, Kuhn attended the Lenox School of Music where he met and played in a group with fellow-students Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry. The faculty included Bill Evans, George Russell, and Gunther Schuller. While at Lenox, Kuhn met trumpeter Kenny Dorham and began a two-year stint, interrupted when Kuhn was asked to join John Coltrane's newly-formed quartet.

Kuhn next joined Stan Getz's band, which included bassist Scott LaFaro. After a year with Art Farmer, he formed the first Steve Kuhn Trio, with drummer Pete LaRoca and bassist Steve Swallow. At the end of the 1960's he spent four years living in Europe, where his performances had a significant impact upon local players. Upon returning to the United States, Kuhn began his long-term affiliation with ECM, resulting in a string of important albums including Trance, Ecstasy, Non-Fiction and the collaborations with Sheila Jordan; Playground and Last Year's Waltz.

This may well be my favorite Steve Kuhn LP, a seldom documented but brilliant live performance that features the compulsive groover "Gloria's Theme", if you're not familiar with it then I envy your first listen.

Our leader's piano & electric piano are joined on this set by George Mraz on bass, Sue Evans on percussion and a stellar performance by Bruce Ditmas on drums.

1) Gloria's Theme
2) The Child Is Gone
3) The Real Guitarist In The House
4) The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers (aka Poem For No. 15)
5) Chicken Feathers
6) Ida Lupino
7) Raindrops, Raindrops
8) Thoughts Of A Gentleman

Guilherme Coutinho

Guilherme Coutinho e Seu Conjunto - Procura-Se Chantecler CMGS-9040 (1971)

Here's another genre blurring recording courtesy organist Guilherme Coutinho. A mammoth melange of groovy, funky club tunes just ripe for dancing. Infectious samba flavoured afro-latin cuts give way to funky breakbeats and easy jazzy ballads, all in all a little known and catchy tour de force. Miss this one at your peril...

Joining Guilherme on piano & organ are Fernando on drums & percussion, Tangerina on bass and the soulful vocals of José Carlos and Walter Bandeira.

1) Saravá Babalorixá
2) Faléncia
3) Tributo A Mim Mesmo
4) Adios, Guadalajara
5) Vai Lá
6) Crepúsculo
7) Papa Jimmy
8) Vira Bróto
9) Trepadeira
10) Bar Do Parque
11) Baby
12) Belo Kid

Mike Nock Underground

Mike Nock Underground - Between Or Beyond MPS/BASF CRM 722 (1970)

Mike Nock has long been one of the top modern jazz keyboardists to emerge from New Zealand. He began taking piano lessons from his father when he was 11 and began gigging four years later and at 18 moved to Australia. After heading a trio that toured England in 1961, Nock went to the U.S. to attend the Berklee College of Music. After a year he dropped out of school to be the house pianist at a Boston club and had opportunities to work with Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, Phil Woods and Sam Rivers among many others. Nock gained some recognition during this period as a member of Yusef Lateef's band (1963-65). He led his own combos, gigged for a short period with the Jazz Messengers and eventually moved to San Francisco where he worked with John Handy.


During 1968-70 Nock was involved with fusion, leading the seminal jazz-rock group The Fourth Way. After a few years he became a studio musician in New York (1975-85) and then returned to Australia where he has been busy as both an educator (teaching at the N.S.W. Conservatorium of Music) and as a musician, occasionally revisiting the U.S. As a leader, Nock recorded as early as 1960 (Move which was recorded in Australia) and has made records for Capitol (with the Fourth Way), MPS & Improvising Artists (in a band called Almanac).

This album, recorded in the legendary MPS Studio Villingen features Mike Nock on piano & electric piano, Ron McClure on electric bass and Eddie Marshall on drums in a funky, spacey, modal jazz groove. One of the toughest to find from the Saba/MPS/BASF stable.

1) Outfall
2) The Squire
3) Hobgoblin
4) Between Or Beyond
5) Space Bugaloo
6) Lady Love
7) Wax Planet
8) Denim Dance

Peru's Bossa 70

Bossa 70 - Bossa 70 Philips 6350-003 (Peru) (1970)

Bossa 70 was the brainchild of Nilo Espinoza, a Peruvian musician with a Brazilian heart. Nilo, a classically trained musician, was the top flute player in Peru in 1960. In 1961 he was honored with a scholarship to Austria to study advance classes of his instrument as well as other kinds of wind instruments. He lived in Europe for five years. It was during that time that he developed a profound attraction for all forms of the jazz language.

When he returned to Peru, in 1966, Nilo approached the best musicians he could find to form a group to play jazz and Bossa-nova, the new music craze from Brazil. Very soon they found out there were not too many followers for their preferred musical styles. The group decided to play popular dance music on a part time basis so everyone in the band could make a living. They named the group Los Hilton's, because they got a gig as the house band in the best International Hotel in Lima, Peru, called "Hilton".

They had several singers during the time they played at the Hilton. This was their major weakness, since it was hard to find a singer that could feel comfortable singing jazz and Bossa-nova as well as popular music. In 1967 they recorded an long-play under the name Los Hilton's, which became extremely rare, since the Peruvian record label printed only 200 copies. The tracks on the album are a compilation of original compositions with some popular songs, played in The Hilton' s style.

In 1968 the group got busy giving concerts of jazz and Bossa nova. They decided to change their name to Bossa 70, to reflect the musical style they were going to offer, specially after their main singer was replaced by Carmen Rosa Basurco. Carmen Rosa was a beautiful black woman that could sing in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and also had an electrifying personality with good control of audiences. As a means to promote their new name the group recorded a mini-lp with four fantastic songs. 100 copies were pressed and giving as a prize during the concerts and to personal friends and family.

In 1970, to commemorate the anniversary of the band, they recorded a long-play for Phillips, represented by El Virrey in Peru. The label pressed 300 copies that were sold quickly. In 1972 the members followed their own musical paths, Enrique "Pico" Ego Aguirre, leader of Los Shain' s went on to form the band Pax. Otto De Rojas played keyboards on the Traffic Sound "Tibbet's Suzetts" album & finally Nilo Espinoza formed Nil's Jazz Ensemble who went on to record the only great jazz funk lp from Peru (MAG-LPN 2535).

Nilo Espinoza: Sax, Flute & Vocals
Enrique Sescun: Trumpet,Trombone & Vocals
Carmen Rosa Basurco: First Female
Otto De Rojas: Progressive Keyboard & Chorus
Roberto Rafaeli: Bass & Chorus
Tito Cruz: Drums & Percussion
Enrique "Pico" Ego Aguirre: First Electric Guitar & Rhythm Guitar
Manuel Marañon: Percussion
Adolfo Bonariva: Timbales & Cowbell

1) Nubes
2) Get Out Of My Way
3) Te Quiero Bien
4) Think
5) Nunca Te Olvidare
6) No Sabes Nada De Mi
7) Me Quedo Con El Shingaling
8) Otra Vez
9) Birimbao
10) Cuelgalo Bien Alto

African Voodoo

Manu Dibango - African Voodoo PSI PSI-3036 (1972)

It is almost impossible to find a fitting description for a musician such as Manu Dibango who has made such an enormous contribution to African music as a whole. He is a saxophonist, nicknamed 'The lion of Cameroon'.

Originally trained in classical piano, his musical career began in Brussels and Paris in the 1950s. 1960 finds him in Congo as a member of African Jazz led by Joseph Kabasele (Le Grand Kalle)! He formed his own band in Cameroon in 1963, moving to Paris in 1965. His international breakthrough came in 1972 with Soul Makossa.

Manu Dibango is extraordinarily versatile, having played almost every style of music you care to mention: soul, reggae, jazz, blues and even this rare French library album on PSI. Forget what you know about the man for this one, considered by some as not only one of his finest albums but one of the strongest unreleased library LPs ever recorded. There's real strength in depth with many stand out tracks blurring the boundaries between Afro-Latin jazz, funk and fusion - a wonderful eclectic listen from start to finish.

1) Groovy Flute
2) Soul Saxes Meeting
3) African Pop Session
4) Walking To Waza
5) Out Of Score
6) Ba-Kuba
7) Zoom 2000
8) Aphrodite Shake
9) Wilderness
10) Jungle Riders
11) Iron Wood
12) Coconut

Central Do Brasil

Ronie & Central Do Brasil -S/T Tapecar LP-X.27 1975

Ronie Mesquita is most known for his stint as the replacement drummer of Bossa Tres, the group led by the great Luis Carlos Vinhas. Tempted by the lures of the bossa nova boom in America, and partly to escape the newly installed, US funded military regime, he along with many of his contemporaries went abroad to ply their trade. Playing in groups such as Gemini 5 & Bossa Rio (Sergio Mendes' b-group), he toured religiously covering the US, Mexico and Japan.

Returning home in the early 70's, he was at a crossroad. The demand for trios were at an all time low, safe dinner music was out. The underground was bubbling, with Tropicalia amongst the hottest of topics with his fellow musicians. The extensive travel partaken by said musicians had opened their eyes to many genres of music, and in turn seeped into their creative output.

Feeling ready to step out from the shadows of a decade long sideman, he returned home to assemble a crew of rotating musicans called Central Do Brasil. This lp being the 2nd release of his frontman career after the immortal "Bresil 72" of the the same year. It has elements of his samba jazz drumming roots, but peppered with a contemporary hint of soul with vocal arrangements by Octavio & Sonia Burnier of Burnier & Cartier fame.

Featuring: Ronie Mesquita (drums/percussion); Jorjão (electric piano); Decio Cardoso (bass);Zé Carlos (flute,tenor sax); Octavio Burnier (guitar); Jayme Luiz, Loawa Braz (vocals); Sonia Burnier, Raymundo Bittencourt (chorus); Chacau (Percussion)

1) Remelexo
2) Atoa, Atoa
3) Albatroz
4) Você Não Ser
5) Falsa Baiana
6) Visgo De Jaca
7) Somente O Samba
8) Madeira De Lei
9) Deus Te Acompanhe
10) Essa Maré

Big Parada

Formiga e Sua Orquestra - Big Parada Elenco ME-59 (1970)

Lots of cool Brasilian funkiness courtesy the legendary trombonista Formiga. One of the harder Elenco pressings to find, this LP features covers of the day done to a backdrop of blaring horns, organ, electric guitar and fat drums. Enjoy...

1) Pout-Pourri: I'm A Man - Looky, Looky
2) Teletema
3) Spinning Wheel
4) Chi Non Lavora Non Fa l'Amore
5) Pout-Pourri: Superstar - I've Been Hurt - My Pledge Of Love
6) Pout-Pourri: Smile A Little Smile For Me - Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday - Everybody's Takin'
7) Hey Jude
8) Midnight Cowboy
9) Sugar Sugar
10) Pout-Pourri: Maquiagem - Take It Easy My Brother Charles - Pena Verde - Cara A Cara

O Grupo

O Grupo - O Grupo Odeon MOFB-3533 (1968)

Here's the rare debut album by O Grupo featuring a young Jayme Além of 'Jayme & Nair' fame. Truly gorgeous harmonising by this vocal quartet and a beautiful listen all the way through.

Stellar production talent in the form of Antonio Adolfo, Nelsinho & Ugo Marotta lend this recording some real class.

1) Alegria De Carnaval
2) Januaria
3) Passa Por Mim
4) Pelas Ruas Do Recife
5) Rosa Branca
6) O Bonde
7) Sa Marina
8) Eu E A Brisa
9) Morrer De Amor
10) Travessia
11) Diane
12) Maria, Carnaval E Cinzas

OK - until further notice I'm ditching the radio folks!

A more user friendly version is in the pipeline & will be incorporated into the new site at some point in the near future.

McGill Clan

McGill Clan - McGill Clan Orfeo 90526 (Uruguay) (1969)

No! Not some kilted Highland bagpipe troop but the exotic, psychedelic, Uruguayan jazz combo. This great LP is stuffed with fresh sounding cover versions and original arrangements, featurings the most obscure, groovy (and funky!) cover version of I'M A MAN (aka SOY UN HOMBRE). This particular psychedelic hammond version is propelled by funky bongos bashing away in the background with a lightly twisted, latin arrangement!

Lots of funky hammond and drums, acid guitar licks and fender bass riffs and superb groovy jazz with breakbeat drumming in the shape of DAYDREAM. The wicked fender basslines of AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN mashed together with lots of tempo changes, breakdowns and moody, funky rhythms. Groovy jazz instrumental PALMITOS CON SALSA GOLF (ultra-catchy psych organ, jazzy horns, funky drums, guitar, piano and bongos!) and the jazzy psycho-beat sounds of PROVISORIO SOUL. Oh, and they do a jazzed-up, groovy Mod sounding version of UP, UP AND AWAY aka ARRIBA, ARRIBA Y ADELANTE!

A real monster!

1) Acuario - Deja Que Entre El Rayo De Sol
2) Tu Me Fascinas
3) Soy Un Hombre
4) Cosas Amorosas
5) Provisorio Soul
6) La Feria De Scarborough
7) Ensueño
8) Arriba Arriba Y Adelante
9) Palmitos Con Salsa Golf
10) Camino De Moras
11) Buenas Noches Alejandro

88 Keys And A Girl

Reg Wilson - 88 Keys And A Girl United Artists UAS-6692 (1968)

Reg Wilson moves in many directions, but the music always comes out in good taste. I like his originals. Another big asset here, I feel , is the voice of Corinna Manetto, a girl who is obviously a good musician. In the past, I have frequently indulged a taste for wordless vocalizing when capable voices have been avaliable to me, & I really appreciate the way Manetto anticipates the flow of music. Background or foreground , under or over , Reg Wilson's music comes off. I like it...note by Duke Ellington.

Not enough Reg's for me in the lexicon of groove, save Tilsley & Guest! Here's a classy little rarity I'm sure will be appreciated.

1) Theme From The Thomas Crown Affair
2) 888
3) To Make It Right
4) Hushabye Mountain
5) Sylvia's Theme
6) At Home With Holmes
7) Knowing When To Leave
8) Tony's Theme
9) Sunny

Greg Alper

Greg Alper Band - Fat Doggie Adelphi AD-5009 (1978)

A happy & healthy 2007 to you all. Have been a little quiet on the posting front but am remedying that with this prize peice of groovy jazziness.

This is a quirky but strong album full of surprises. Heaven knows why it isn't more sought after considering the pedigree of the musicians and the quality of the tunes.

A very mixed bag this - a couple of opening dancefloor stompers give way to a handful of blisteringly tight & catchy jazz nuggets that you'll find yourself playing over & over again whilst uttering "why have I never heard of this LP?" It's this second half of the album that does it for me.

Along with Alper on saxes & flute, credits go to Rich Oppenheim (as) Ray Anderson (tb,vo) Al Clark (perc,vo) Richie Morales (ds) Ernie Provencher (b) Al Scott (b) Chuck Loeb (g) Steve Gutman (tp) Debbie & Olive Pointer, Jean Shaw (bg-vo).

1) Hole In Your Pocket
2) Fat Doggie
3) Give It Up
4) Huevos Nuevos
5) Cantaña Baratta
6) Suite For Renee
7) Five Verses For
8) Don't Ever Let Me Catch You

Bah, Humbug

Floral Pops 70 - Drum Christmas Para Bailar DIM Serie Especial E-108 (Spa) (197?)

A festive diversion - normal service will be resumed shortly!

I'm not a big fan of the Christmas record but this novelty is worth a listen. An obscure Spanish release with a groovy loungecore edge complimented by wordless 'Barbara Moore' style vocals. Might raise an eyebrow or two at the Christmas party.

1) Jingle Bells
2) White Christmas
3) Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
4) Here Comes Santa Claus
5) Winter Wonderland
6) Blue Christmas
7) When The Saints Go Marching In
8) Silent Night
9) I Saw Mammy Kissing Santa Claus
10) Santa Claus Is Comming To Town
11) Joy To The World
12) Ave Maria
13) Auld Lang Syne

Franko Xavier

Franko Xavier - Same Odeon SMOFB-3845 (1974)

Here's a gem. A high calibre funky samba soul LP you shouldn't be without...

1) Eu Sou Marinheiro
2) Di Bambue
3) Nana
4) Maria, Mariazinha
5) Linda
6) O Chamante
7) Antes Pouco Que Nenhum
8) Mane Joao
9) Somos Todos Irmaos
10) Canto Sul
11) Chuva Miuda
12) Tema Do Amor Amado

Stop, Look & Listen

Mario Castro Neves - Stop, Look & Listen Canadian Talent Library CTL S-5211 (1977)

An obscure Canadian library release by an artist who needs little introduction. So I won't, except to say any fans of that female led Sergio Mendes sound should not go without this little gem.

1) Sometime Love Affair
2) Feelings
3) Subtle Chemistry
4) All You Get From Love Is A Lovesong
5) Boca Grande
6) Stop, Look & Listen
7) Summersoft
8) Why Can't There Be You
9) This One's For You
10) Open Up (Try Understanding)

Keeping it short 'n' sweet today as I'm overwhelmed by other commitments and it's all hands on deck with regard getting the new site live - stay posted, it'll be worth the wait!

Caçhasa Suite

Lars Färnlöf, Staffan Abeléens Kvintett & Radiojazzgruppen - Svit Caçhasa SR Records RELP-1152 (Swe) (1973)

“Caçhasa” is singularly impressive, showing that while trumpeter and composer Färnlöf was quite comfortable writing for a larger group, he kept the musical landscape reasonably uncluttered and gave the ensemble and its component parts ample room to swing. Besides the members of the quintet, the soloists on “Caçhasa” include some of Sweden’s best — pianist Bengt Hallberg, guitarist Rune Gustafsson, saxophonist / flautist Lennart Åberg, drummer Egil Johansen, trombonist Lars Olofsson, baritone Erik Nilsson and others. This perceptively written and handsomely performed Jazz album really impresses and grooves hard from the opening bar to the last.

THE STAFFAN ABELEEN QUINTET
Lars Färnlöf : cornet, flugelhorn
Björn Netz : tenor saxophone
Staffan Abeleen : piano
Fredrik Norén : drums
Red Mitchell : double bass
THE SWEDISH RADIO JAZZ GROUP
Bosse Broberg : trumpet
Bertil Lövgren : trumpet
Jan Allan : trumpet
Håkan Nyquist : french horn
Lars Olofsson : trombone
Sven Larsson : bass trombone, tuba
Bertil Färnlöf : oboe, cor anglais
Arne Domnérus : alto saxophone
Claes Rosendahl : tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute
Lennart Åberg : soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
Erik Nilsson : baritone saxophone
Bengt Hallberg : piano
Rune Gustafsson : guitar
Stefan Brolund : electric bass
Egil Johansen : drums
Jan Bandel : congas

1) Mörkret Ler
2) La Bergerie I
3) La Bergerie II
4) Caçhasa
5) Delta Queen

Cult Of Marius

Marius Cultier - Ouelele...Souskai Fiesta 360 066 (1975)

This famed pianist was born in Martinique and when as a teenager he began touring the Caribbean & French Antilles participating in various events & contests it wasn't long before he gained notoriety from his peers. At 20 he shifts to Canada where his fame there allows him to promote the young jazz talents of the Antilles.

This album, cut in France has become somewhat of a cult latin jazz masterpiece - and whilst retaining that West Indian flavour is infused with the lateral jazz expressiveness of the day and a compulsive funky flare that is irresistable on the dancefloor. Don't miss the percussive fusion bomb 'Diamant', a true tour de force...

1) Ouelele
2) Missie Sirop
3) Diamant
4) Laini
5) Souskai
6) Ni Tellement Longtemps (Eh Oui Doudou)
7) Gade Boudin Madame
8) Rezouk Souvenir

Uncommonly good Werther!

Werther - Werther Stylo SSLP-1 (1970)

Here's one you don't see too often. A rare slice of jazzy bossa on the obscure Stylo label.

Werther (acoustic guitar &,vocals); Tranka (acoustic bass, tenor sax, piano); Luiz Roberto (drums); Bill Horne (flute, trumpet, melophone); Wanda, Helo, Malu, Carreteiro and Rupp (male/female chorus) with guest musicians featuring Edison Machado (drums); Naná Vasconcelo (percussion); Boi (bongo) and Toninho Silva (acoustic guitar).

With songs by Werther/Gil, Ricardo Arnt, Arthur Verocai/Paulinho Tapajós, Toninho Horta, Caetano Veloso and others. Slick, infectious and haunting - this LP delivers on several fronts.

1) Terça-Feira
2) Leilão
3) Catavento
4) Mudança
5) Litoral
6) Estuário
7) Mararia
8) Lenda
9) Aprestentação
10) Rei Do Chão
11) Dimensão
12) Ave Maria

Blog Radio

With the jukebox you can control which song you want to hear! I have kept the file quality to size ratio to a happy medium to ensure decent sound whilst download pauses are connection speed dependent. The selection will be updated frequently so remember to tune in. Enjoy...