Donald Byrd – Ethiopian Knights

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

jazz with funk rock chops

Moods

Top notch jazz-funk

Thoughts

these are long cuts that give way to extended jams. Patience is rewarding:

'the emperor' is funky strum guitar and groovy picking bass line gives way to solos from xylophone and Byrd on trumpet. It's great.

'Jamie' is a brief chilled out piece in comparison, gospel like at times with the organ.

'Little rasti' brings back the groove where things are ever so slightly dirtier (think as if it were the late show at a jazz club as opposed to a cleaner early show on 'the emperor'). Things kick off with a drum solo and then get into a groovy set of solos this time include Wawa guitar, keys and of course a very confident Byrd.

I'm hard pressed to think of better funk rock jazz from this or any of the era. On par with Miles and a must for fans of the genre.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Donald-Byrd-Ethiopian-Knights/release/890204

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtKcvoeO2vA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhiYaTLP8xM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAycZvJwtIA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av4j96aEDAA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvHQGXdvbDc

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Donald Byrd – Ethiopian Knights

Description: Album Review of Donald Byrd – Ethiopian Knights


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Quincy Jones – Walking In Space

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

soulful jazz arrangements

Moods

big band jazz-funk

Thoughts

Arrangements are rich and instrumentation as good as any with exceptional guitar work (best displayed on the bluesy standout 'love and peace').

However it's missing a certain rawness the great jazz-funk of the era holds, limits the appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Quincy-Jones-Walking-In-Space/release/2560746

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWoqvBFeCrI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebvHk62DUtA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJgTzLsvCKQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXQ4r4y3Wdc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aASXNyc6xmY

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Quincy Jones – Walking In Space

Description: Album Review of Quincy Jones – Walking In Space


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Mansur Brown – Shiroi

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

jazz with an electro hip hop vibe

Moods

Hip future jazz for sad night owls

Thoughts

Nocturnal record overall. There's a certain sadness in Brown's guitar playing. On the title track it can be haunting, letting notes ring out into forever; kind of like a technically proficient version of the XX. Other tracks, 'God willing' and 'me up', pick up quicker with an 808 like rhythm. The sound is defined by the bass players prominence in the mix, gives the album a funky urban thump.

It's a great style but as an LP it gets monotonous. I think with some songwriting focus and additional instrumentation this could go from good to great.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mansur-Brown-Shiroi/release/12800537

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsHIrqYdacI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOB6Wk22zG8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KNlanLKXWI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kxvVtHEe-U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tvvCtys708

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Mansur Brown – Shiroi

Description: Album Review of Mansur Brown – Shiroi


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Billy Harper – Black Saint

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

Post bop

Moods

A dense, urban post bop masterpiece

Thoughts

Great album,has an energy that's very west village jazz: dense, subterranean, and fighting restraint. The constant crash symbol use adds this de-constructing vibe. Heavy swirling and dissonant solos provide a madness. These guys are on point and each bring this intensity here.

Typically I reserve a 5-star for music that is essential in the catalog of sound. Could the world live without this record? Absolutely but I think it's such a remarkable illustration of the genre that it's essential.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Harper-Black-Saint/release/12148892

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJOVUCEcsLg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edV6QIkWxr8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvTNnswzjhc

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Billy Harper – Black Saint

Description: Album Review of Billy Harper – Black Saint


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

jazzy rock with heavy electronics and a slight psych vibe

Moods

a positively bumping affair

Thoughts

A true hybrid that shows the capability of genre bending. It's a big and rocking record, with this heavy hum underpinning the songs, showing the 'maximum' sound of dubstep and heavy rock. The sax adds a nice contrast to this heavy sound, cutting through sharply as a welcome texture. With his blistering free-jazz squawk it makes it feel like the whole thing could boil over at any point.

I like the overall style, jazzy without too much exploration. To be fair this is a studio album, a lot of these songs are prime jumping points solos; I'd be VERY interested to see this band live.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Comet-Is-Coming-Channel-The-Spirits/release/13379392

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXH5nv1aQpw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bih6JQzbFY0

Spotify


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The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits

Description: Album Review of The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Various – Brainfeeder X

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Modern alternative electro with a strong influence of hip hop and jazz.

Moods

An exploratory dive into the wonderful brainfeeder

Thoughts

It's incredible to hear what brainfeeder has become. In my mind I continue to associate  the label (incorrectly) as a 1 trick pony built around flying lotus' wompy LA g-funk. The label is so much more and the brainfeeder roster has expanded on this in directions I wasn't aware of: alt hip hop, chilled out funk, ambient, glitchy house, live jazz.. it's all there and more.

I won't spend too much time getting into the album as sound vary but it's all quality. The first half is devoted to the past, whereas the second half is forward looking with unreleased tracks. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with an exceptional label.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Brainfeeder-X/release/12899152

Listen!

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Various – Brainfeeder X

Description: Album Review of Various – Brainfeeder X


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Max Graef Band – Dog

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Jazzy punk funk by amateurs

Moods

An enjoyable jazzy dance punk record

Thoughts

The basic but prominent bass work give this an 80s dance punk vibe like the minutemen or that other LES stuff like the ESG. Keys and rhythm provide an accessible jazz funk but it remains grounded.

A great hybrid of those two styles, nothing inventive but it's a fun record with an easy amateur feel that's appealing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Max-Graef-Band-Dog-/release/7837490

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXorVKlYj1Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBDwyynSBL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9P5lvySQLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TRBQec5A7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8RSUcX2zV0

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Max Graef Band – Dog

Description: Album Review of Max Graef Band – Dog


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Sun Ra – Lanquidity

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

large lazy bluesy jazz

Moods

Sun Ra at his most groovy

Thoughts

This kicks off with a bore but picks up quick with 'Where pathways meet'; a swinging jazz track with elements of rock and blues that give it a pretty hip feel. It's got an appealing imperfection, it falls in and out of time as if it's of not much importance.

'That's how I feel' continues the vibe but things get a little sleepier. Rhodes solos take the place of the electric guitar and a nocturnal atmosphere sets in. There's some type of hand drum on these tracks and it sounds like they recorded it by putting the microphone in the drum to get this fantastic tone.

A groovy outing from one of the legends in avant-garde jazz.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sun-Ra-Lanquidity/release/12601284

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=238Dh6N9GLg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-OxkoTNp4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_KLSKSX2PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5vRHbQoTlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtVmUKcI5l4

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Sun Ra – Lanquidity

Description: Album Review of Sun Ra – Lanquidity


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

groovy jazz funk rock (fusion?)

Moods

Crack open a can of that smooth 70s groove

Thoughts

polished and slick fusion that's pretty straightforward rock at times. Lots of brass and 70s funk licks. A little too slick and jazzy at times for me to call it a record I love (that might be one of my problems with fusion is that it sits in the middle) but I can dig this groove, that drummer is so in the pocket it's ridiculous.

Love some parts – keys solo on Georgia cottonfield. The chilled out funk on so far away, an album highlight.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Crusaders-1/release/2447492

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J84IiZ6WfGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OahE2GGaGq4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHGlEvEtbuU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jXsPUB-Qf0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfSp5gcFf9w

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The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

Description: Album Review of The Crusaders – Crusaders 1


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes – Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Abstract bedroom smooth jazz

Moods

Hangs around like steam rising after a summer downpour.

Thoughts

Bunch of rough ambient sax and basic supporting sounds like a drum machine or bass line. At times it's like they're boiling modern r&b to its most basic form with looping finger snaps or whispery beatbox. It's a bunch of sketches, not really an album. There's a lot of ambient background noise, effective as another texture like burial. Has an improv vibe.

Gendel is a good sax player, really hear his rich sound on the solos ( track one is a good example).

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Gendel-Sam-Wilkes-Music-For-Saxofone-Bass-Guitar/release/12194261

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enX9Fr-I8MA

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Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes – Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar

Description: Album Review of Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes – Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar


Rating: 4 out of 5