Highest Pleasure

One of the factors that keeps creative black music alive and changing is the ability of the musicians to blend their experience and emotions into the actual fibers of the music. Rudolph Johnson is a musician who has reached that plane where spirit and techniques fuse to form free creative energy.
The 1973 ‘Second Coming‘ album on Black Jazz Records by Rudolph is like the transition between these two states, releasing the energies of rebirth…..the second coming.

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Rudolph Johnson – ‘The Highest Pleasure’

Ultra-relaxed

Travellin’ Rhodes

Coolin’ Pt.6

An obscure find and very different than a lot of his other work, Ray Bryant’s 1979 album ‘In The Cut’ features string and horn arrangements by Charles Stepney – which makes the track ‘Andalusian Nights’ a very tripped out and mellow one, but with that majestically soulful approach.

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Ray Bryant – ‘Andalusian Nights’

Coolin’ Pt.5

An excellent modern pianist who is adaptable to many acoustic jazz settings, Stanley Cowell has long been underrated except among knowing musicians. Taken from the 1981 album ‘New World‘, this invigorating track displays amazing technique, finding each player exploring seemingly different territory, keeping the listener in a deep meditative state trying to take it all in. Recommended.

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Stanley Cowell – ‘El Space-O’

Imaginative Movement

Sometimes a track digs itself to the forefront of your memory once again for no apparent reason, despite the fact that you haven’t heard it in ages. In this case, gladly so. The 1971 album ‘Second Movement‘ by Eddie Harris and Les McCann features great technology that emphasizes one of their best songs, funk-workout ‘Shorty Rides Again’. These technological enhancements add to the explosive chemistry of McCann and Harris as well as waking up the resonance and excitement inherent in the compositions and the extended vamps ignited by Harris on electric sax. On its release the album was panned by critics for abandoning straight-ahead jazz for an experimental self-indulgent sound, however, when measured by 21st century standards, this release is a gem that continues to inspire.

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Eddie Harris & Les McCann – ‘Shorty Rides Again’

Coolin’ Pt.4

Japanese trombone player Hiroshi Fukumura teams up with saxophonist Sadao Watanabe on this laid-back jazz gem, taken from the album called ‘Hunt Up Wind’ which was released in 1978 on Flying Disk Records. Accompanying musicians are Don Grusin, Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Harvey Mason and Paulinho Da Costa. Served up for your much needed unwinding pleasure.

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Hiroshi Fukumura – ‘White Clouds’

OTAM Mix 05: Frodo – ‘Mahogany Cult’

In succession of my previous post I thought I’d treat you to a mix done within a similar frame of mind: a mid-tempo, abstract Detroit house, jazz-funk, distorted disco set – my take on Motor City’s late-night opium.

Tracklist:

‘In The Field’ – Hu Vibrational
‘Kingpult’ – Krause Duo
‘On A Day Like Today’ – The Mole
‘Sauterelles [D-class Redub]‘ – D-classics
‘Reflect’ – Move D
‘You’re My Heart’ – Manmade Science
‘System Sauce’ – 3 Chairs
‘Good Kiss’ – Rick Wilhite
‘Spirits’ – Gary’s Gang
‘You Got The Stuff [Special Disco Version]‘ – Bill Withers
‘Ask The Boss [Sad Ghost Tape]‘ – Flowchart
‘Transit’ – Kenny Dixon Jr
‘I Love You More’ – Rene & Angela
‘Twilight [Jitterbugs Lost Edit]‘ – Maze
‘It’s So Different Here’ – Rachel Sweet

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OTAM Mix 05: Frodo – ‘Mahogany Cult’

A Sum Of Epic Parts

This 2004 landmark collaboration between Kenny Dixon Jr., Marcellus Pittman, Rick Wilhite & Theo Parrish achieves an unequalled level of cohesiveness in mixing all the influences of their individual musical backgrounds. It’s like listening to their infamous DJ sets all rolled into one: Chicago house, Detroit techno, disco, boogie, soul, jazz, if they play it, it’s mixed in there with no one sound outweighing any other. If you have a craving for Detroit house and you don’t have this, you really need to get it.

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Three Chiars – ‘Underwater People’

Coolin’ Pt.3

A legendary bit of jazz infused soul — recorded by an obscure female singer from Milwaukee, Penny Goodwin. A darn nice warm style, perfect on its own, but made even better by the great arranger Richard Evan. File under Chicago sophisti-soul.

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Penny Goodwin – ‘Too Soon Youre Old’