Jukka Eskola's Exploration into Scandi-Bossa

Over the last month, the Italian record label Schema has released a number of great new records including a brand new album by Finnish awarded trumpet player/ composer Jukka Eskola. I've been a fan of Eskola's music since his 2004 breakthrough 12" release Buttercup / 1974. Since that time, the trumpet player has released a few singles including Timber Up and Jova, as well as the amazing 2009 full-length album Walkover. On this great new album, titled Orquesta Bossa, Eskola fuses together his Scandinavian jazz roots with an exploration into the world of Bossa Nova and Brazilian-influenced rhythms. The album, which was co-written by drummer Teppo Mäkynen, has a classic Bossa Nova groove throughout the recording that features both premiere gathering of both Finnish jazz and classical musicians. Some of the highlight's include "Bolly Beat", "Tensions", "From the Hot Afternoon" and "Slam Square". The session was recorded on an analog 8-track tape recorder using old 50's and 60's tube microphones, which helps give the album a feel like it was recorded during the time Antonio Carlos Jobim was first introducing the world to "Desafinado". Overall, this is solid new adventurous recording from one of Finland's most prolific jazz musicians. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

To purchase this record and/or listen to more audio clips, CLICK HERE.

Jukka Eskola - From the Hot Afternoon

Michael Longo - Funkia

During the seventies, pianist Michael Longo released a number of solid under-the-radar soul jazz recordings for labels like Mainstream Records and Groove Merchant. Out of the handful of recordings he released during this period, my favorite is the 1974 album Funkia. As the title of this session suggests, this record has a funky electric jazz feel throughout the recording, backed by an impressive group of musicians that include Ron Carter (bass), Mickey Roker (drums) and Potato Valdez (percussion). Standout tracks include the opener "Ole' For The Gypsies", "Samia", a rendition of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and the Latin-influence cut "Gingele". Overall, this recording represents the pianist in a bit more stripped down setting than what can be found on his Mainstream releases, however is a beneficial aspect, allowing Longo's playing to take center stage. Enjoy!

Michael Longo - Ole' For The Gypsies

Ahmad Jamal Trio - The Awakening

After featuring two lesser discussed releases by Ahmad Jamal over the past few days, I thought I would conclude this week's tribute to the jazz great by featuring one of his more landmark recordings he released for Impulse!, in The Awakening. The 1970 album showcases the pianist being much more adventurous than many of his earlier sessions he recorded for labels like Argo and Cadet, hammering out a number of brillant uptempo groove-oriented compositions written by himself, Herbie Hancock, Oliver Nelson, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others. Standout selections include "Patterns", "Dolphin Dance", "Stolen Moments", "Wave" and the title track "The Awakening". Even though the pianist put out a number of solid records on Impulse! during the early seventies, many will probably agree that The Awakening is Jamal's most notable release during that period.

Ahmad Jamal Trio - Patterns



Living legend Ahmad Jamal performs tonight at Davies Symphony Hall (201 Van Ness, SF). To learn more and/or buy tickets, visit the sfjazz.org website.

Ahmad Jamal - Macanudo

With Monday's post, I highlighted Ahmad Jamal's seventies-era exploration into jazz fusion. Today, I thought I would switch gears and showcase the pianist's diversity as a musician and delve into the 1962 Latin-influenced album Macanudo. Unlike most of Jamal's recording sessions, which typically feature the pianist in a trio or quartet setting, this early sixties session on Argo Records is occupied by a larger orchestra ensemble conducted by Richard Evans. On this record, Jamal pays homage to the music roots of South America, making the addition of the Latin-inspired instrumentation provided by Evan's orchestra a very complementary factor in the session's overall sound. Highlight's include "Bogota", "Haitian Market Place", and "Belo Horizonte". In all, this early sixties recording showcases the legendary pianist branching out away from his signature sound and diving into the realm of Afro-Latin jazz.

Ahmad Jamal - Bogota

Ahmad Jamal - Jamal Plays Jamal

The 31st Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival kicks off this week beginning Wednesday night with notable Italian pianist Stefano Bollani and his trio performing at the SFJAZZ Center. The next night, finds the festival's headlining act, Ahmad Jamal gracing the stage at Davies Symphony Hall with his superb quartet featuring Reginald Veal (bass), Herlin Riley (drums), and percussionist Manolo Badrena. Speaking from someone who has seen the legendary pianist perform on a number of occasions, I can absolutely guarantee that this will no doubtfully be a great show.

With this show only being a few days away, I thought it would be fitting to highlight one of the pianist's more underrated, yet brilliant releases in Jamal Plays Jamal. This record, which came out in 1974 during a time the pianist was experimenting with a more electric-fusion sound while he was recording for 20th Century, finds Jamal playing mostly on a Fender Rhodes piano while being backed by a solid group of musicians including Jamil Nasser (bass), Frank Gant (drums), and Azzedin Weston (Randy Weston's son) on congas. The record has an overall funky soul jazz sound that is very groove-oriented, especially on tracks like "Eclipse", "Dialogue" and "Swahililand" (famously sampled by J Dilla on De La Soul's "Stakes is High"). Even though the jazz great tends to receive more critical praise for his earlier works on Argo and Cadet Records, Ahmad Jamal released a number of great albums in the seventies, like Jamal Plays Jamal, that successfully blended the "cool" be-bop sounds of the fifties and sixties together with the more experimental explorations of the seventies.

Ahmad Jamal - Swahililand

Billy Harper - Capra Black

One of the true landmark recordings during the spiritual jazz movement of the seventies was saxophonist Billy Harper's debut album as a leader titled Capra Black. This record, which was released off of Strata-East in 1973, finds the saxophonist channelling Coltrane-like emotion and force in his playing throughout the session. One of the notable features about Capra Black is it's incorporation of gospel-like voices on tracks like "Soulfully, I Love You/Black Spiritual Of Love" and "Cry Of Hunger", giving the album a passionate, yet soulful feel that compliments the music's overall modal tone. Even though Harper's playing takes center stage throughout each piece, the saxophonist is joined by a heavy-weight group of musicians including George Cables (piano), Reggie Workman (bass), Julian Priester (trombone), Billy Cobham (drums) and others. Overall, this brilliant ground-breaking record not only showcased Billy Harper as a strong bandleader, the album also helped propel the saxophonist into becoming one of the more influential musicians during the seventies' black conscientious movement in jazz.

Billy Harper - Soulfully, I Love You/Black Spiritual Of Love

Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Juju Street Songs

Here is the jazz-funk masterpiece "Bertha Baptist" from Gary Bartz NTU Troop. This righteous funky gem is featured on the group's 1972 album Juju Street Songs. This is just one of the many great tracks included on this record, which also features standout cuts like "Black Maybe", "Teheran", the soulful spiritual jazz gem "I Wanna Be Were You Are", as well as the Afro-Caribbean influenced cut "Africans Unite". This recording was released on the heels of both Harlem Bush Music releases, and maintains a similar feel as those sessions. Overall, another powerful statement from a group that mastered the ability to record passionate spiritual music while maintaining a funky groove. Enjoy!

Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Bertha Baptist

Spiritual Jazz 4

In 2012, Jazzman Records was responsible for two of the year's best compilation releases with volume two and three of their acclaimed Spiritual Jazz series. This spring, the label continued their exploration into the world of spiritual jazz, releasing the fourth volume of the series Americans in Europe: Modal, Esoteric & Progressive Jazz from the European Underground 1963-1979. Unlike the last two volumes, which focused solely on European artists and the music that came out of that region, this volume takes a look at some of the best rare gems that were recorded by American artists while they were temporarily residing or touring in Europe. As this brilliant compilation helps highlight, Europe became a very fruitful place for many American jazz artists. During the sixties and seventies, jazz was beginning to take a backseat in many record executives' eyes to rock, soul and other forms of popular music. This shift made it much harder for aspiring jazz artists to make a recording, as well as find a consistent working gig. This therefore caused many notable and up-and-coming jazz artists to make their way to Europe, were there was still a heavy demand for jazz and it didn't come with all the social, racial, and economic issues and pressures that were, at the time, very present in the states. Europe also was a place were American artists could experiment and perform with some of the brightest musicians coming out of Europe. On Spiritual Jazz 4, this collaborative effort is on full display, which includes American flautist Sahib Shihab working with Swiss guitarist Pierre Cavalli, Don Cherry performing alongside Krzysztof Penderecki, and pianist Hampton Hawes in collaboration with notable sound library composer Johnny Hawksworth to name just a few. There are tons of great tracks included on this compilation including "Five, Four, & Three" by Lee Konitz, "T & W" by Frank Wright Sextet, "Born & Shake" by Clarence Peters, "Summertime" by Albert Ayler, "The Creators" by Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land. Overall, Jazzman Records has brilliantly managed to come full circle in this series by showcasing the important contributions in jazz that were made in a collaborative effort by both American and European musicians. Definitely one of the year's best releases!

Johnny Hawksworth & Hampton Hawes - Jazz Rule



Frank Wright Sextet - T & W

The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music)

Ever since his time with Sun Ra's Arkestra during the late fifties and early sixties, Phil Cohran has been one of the leading artists when it's comes to the overall exploration of spiritualism and artistic expressionism in jazz. After Sun Ra moved east in 1961, Cohran stayed in Chicago and helped establish the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), a non-profit musician based organization that featured, at the time, some of jazz music's most creative artists including Art Ensemble of Chicago, Jack DeJohnette, Anthony Braxton, Chico Freeman, Muhal Richard Abrams and many others. During this same time, Cohran and his group, The Artistic Heritage Ensemble, released a number of landmark recordings on his own Zulu Records including On The Beach (1967), The Spanish Suite (1968), Armageddon (1968), a number of limited 45 singles, as well as one of my favorite spiritual jazz recordings titled The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music) in 1968.

As the record's title suggests, The Malcolm X Memorial album is a conceptual tribute piece for the late Malcolm X. Each piece of the 4-song tribute suite focuses on a different period of Malcolm's life, with titles that include "Malcolm Little", "Detroit Red", "Malcolm X", and "El Hajj Malik El Shabazz". The recording has an overall spiritual, yet righteous groove that tends to build from one track to the next, featuring a heavy dose of exotic percussion and horn passages. The original release of the record was was put out by Cohran himself, and was limited to only 1,000 copies. The record has recently been made more available with the help of Mississippi Records, who released a reissued version of the album a few years ago. In all, this brilliant tribute is arguably one of Philip Cohran's greatest recorded works as both a musician and a band leader.

Philip Cohran & TAH Ensemble - Malcolm X

The Louis Hayes Group - Variety Is The Spice

During the 50's, 60's and 70's, Louis Hayes was one of the most active and accomplished drummers, playing alongside Yusef Lateef, Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Clark, Oscar Peterson and others. Even though he often accompanied artists as a "sideman", Hayes also led on a number of recording projects. One of his most notable recordings as a leader took place at the end of the seventies in 1979, when the drummer recorded and released Variety Is The Spice with a group that included Frank Strozier(alto saxophone & flute), Cecil McBee(bass), Harold Mabern(piano) and a cast of percussionists. This record has an overall soulful modal feel similar to some of the sessions he recorded with pianist Cedar Walton. Another fascinate of the record is the multi-layering of groove-oriented percussion led by Hayes and backed by Titos Sompa (congas) and Portinho. Overall, Variety Is The Spice easily represents one of Hayes' finest moments as a band leader.

The Louis Hayes Group - Kelly Colors

Ornette Coleman - Friends and Neighbors

Throughout Ornette Coleman's life, he has written and released a number of landmark recordings. One of the jazz great's most spiritual compositions came in 1970 on the Flying Dutchman released recording Friends and Neighbors: Ornette Live At Prince Street, with the title track "Friends and Neighbors". The album, as the title suggests, was recorded live at a place called 'Artists House' on Prince Street in New York, which was a performance space located above his apartment at the time. The record also features Dewey Redman on tenor, bassist Charlie Haden, drummer Ed Blackwell and on the vocal version of "Friends and Neighbors", a number of Ornette's neighborhood friends sing over the music. Overall, a solid recording from one of jazz music's most adventurous musicians.

Ornette Coleman - Friends and Neighbors

Clifford Jordan - Night Of The Mark VII

Saxophonist Clifford Jordan was at the forefront of the seventies spiritual jazz movement, most notably releasing a number of classic albums on Strata-East Records including Clifford Jordan In The World in 1972 and Glass Bead Games in 1974. Even though the two recordings he released on Strata-East are of the "Holy Grail" status for spiritual jazz enthusiasts, the saxophonist also put out a number of impressive spiritual albums on Muse Records including the brilliant 1975 recording Night Of The Mark VII. This mid-seventies release, which included Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, featured a number of great tracks including spiritual gems "Highest Mountain" and "John Coltrane", as well as solid renditions of Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk" and an expansive stretched out version of Sam Jones' "One for Amos". The seventies became a very creative period for Clifford Jordan and his recordings with labels like Strata-East, Muse, and SteepleChase represent some of the saxophonist's greatest works.

Clifford Jordan Quartet - John Coltrane

Michael Carvin - The Camel

Drummer Michael Carvin has performed on some of the most notable spiritual jazz recordings of the seventies including Doug Carn's Infant Eyes (1971), Pharaoh Sanders' Elevation (1974), Cecil McBee's Mutima (1974), Hannibal Marvin Peterson's Hannibal (1975) and many others. Even though the percussionist spent most of his time during this period as a sideman, Carvin stepped out as a leader in 1975 and released the soulful spiritual record The Camel off of the Danish jazz label SteepleChase. The record features a strong cast of "New Thing" era musicians including Sonny Fortune (alto & soprano saxophone), Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet & flugelhorn), Ron Burton (piano) and Calvin Hill (bass). Highlight's include the uptempo swingin' groover "Osun", as well as Carvin's rendition of John Coltrane's "Naima", and spiritual gems "Kwebena's Blues" and "The Camel". A defining record from one of the seventies era's greatest drummers. Enjoy!

Michael Carvin - The Camel

Archie Shepp ‎- Blasé

During the late sixties and early seventies, saxophonist Archie Sheep released a number of records on the French label BYG Records. These recordings, which were recorded after Shepp relocated to Paris, tended to have a more free sound in comparison to some of the material that was featured on his Impulse releases. One of my favorite recordings that the saxophonist released on BYG is his 1969 album Blasé. This record finds Shepp exploring his blues roots in a more avant-garde and dark tone, that at also speaks to hopeful message through vocalist Jeanne Lee. The record also features Art Ensemble of Chicago alums Lester Bowie (trumpet) and Malachi Favors (bass), as well as Philly Joe Jones on drums, Dave Burrell on piano, with Chicago Beau and Julio Finn playing harmonica on a few selections. Overall, Blasé is another powerful release from Shepp, who often used his music to speak to the inequalities that African-Americans were dealing with at that time. Enjoy!

Archie Shepp ‎- Blasé

Nathan Davis - If

From 1965 to 1977, Nathan Davis left his mark on jazz with some great releases including the brilliant 1976 masterpiece If. The mid-seventies album features a number of great cuts like "Stick Buddy", "African Boogie", "New Orleans", the title track "If" and the monster jazz-funk gem "Tragic Magic". Davis played many woodwind instruments on the record including alto and tenor saxophones, flute, and clarinet, while being backed by George Caldwell on piano, Abraham Laboriel on bass, Willie Amoaku on percussion and Dave Palamar on drums. The album blends together funky soulful grooves with spiritually-inspired tones and melodies, a sound that many notable jazz artists were exploring during the seventies. Even though Davis didn't record many albums as a leader, probably due to his heavy involvement with teaching and education (He has been the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Pittsburgh for over 4 decades), If is a powerful statement that is considered by many as the defining record of Davis's recording career and one of the best soul jazz releases of the decade. Enjoy!

Nathan Davis - Tragic Magic

Doug Carn - Revelation

During the seventies, the West Coast based Black Jazz Records released a number of amazing records that consistently invoked both political and spiritually inspired tones, melodies and messages. The independent jazz label was founded in 1971 by Dick Schoryl and pianist Gene Russell as a supportive and creative outlet for artists like Calvin Keys, Doug Carn, Walter Bishop Jr., Henry Franklin, The Awakening, Rudolph Johnson and others. Even though the label existed only for six years, Black Jazz Records impressively released about 20 LP's, before unfortunately dissolving shortly after Russell's death in 1976.

Here are a few of my favorite selections off of Doug Carn's Revelation album, released by Black Jazz Records back in 1973. The entire album has a heavy spiritual jazz feel that includes a powerful vocal presence from Doug's then-wife Jean Carn. An overall brilliant recording that I highly recommend checking out.

Doug Carn feat. Jean Carn - Time Is Running Out



Doug Carn feat. Jean Carn - Jihad

Mary Lou Williams - Zoning

Legendary jazz pianist, composer and arranger Mary Lou Williams recorded a number of notable recordings throughout her lifetime including Zodiac Suite (1945 and then later re-released in 1975), Black Christ of the Andes (1963), Free Spirits (1976) and others. In my opinion however, the defining moment of her recording career came in 1974 when the pianist recorded the album Zoning. This record, which has a spiritual and funky rhythmic groove throughout, also features Bob Cranshaw or Milton Suggs on bass, Mickey Roker on drums and Tony Waters on congas. The record is solid from start to finish with some of the major highlights including "Olinga", "Medi II", "Gloria", "Intermission", "Rosa Mae" and others. On a personal note, this record was my first introduction to Mary Lou Williams back when I first heard the album many years ago and it certainly at the time, motivated myself into exploring many of her other works. An overall masterpiece that I highly recommend checking out!

Mary Lou Williams - Olinga



Mary Lou Williams - Medi II

Joe Henderson Quintet - At The Lighthouse

To finish up my recent tribute to jazz great Joe Henderson, I wanted to highlight one of my favorite releases from the legendary saxophonist, titled At The Lighthouse: If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You're Part Of The Problem. This live date was recorded over the span of three days in the September of 1970 at the famous Southern California jazz club the Lighthouse Café, or better known by many simply as "The Lighthouse". The recording features a great cast of musicians including Woody Shaw (trumpet), George Cables (piano), Ron McClure (bass), Lenny White (drums) and Tony Waters (congas). Much like Henderson's other Milestone Records releases, this session has an overall early electric jazz feel that has plenty of funky moments throughout. Some of the highlights include "Caribbean Fire Dance", "Mode For Joe", "Blue Bossa" and the heavy-hitting groove oriented title track. Overall, an impressive release that helps showcase the explosive nature of the tenor saxophonist in a live setting.

Joe Henderson - If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You're Part Of The Problem

Sonny Stitt ‎– Primitivo Soul

Saxophonist Sonny Stitt was featured on a number of notable jazz recordings during the fifties, sixties and seventies. The hard bop heavy-weight at times explored the fusion of Latin rhythms and influences into his own music. This was certainly true with his 1964 Prestige recording Primitivo Soul. On this date, Stitt blends soulful mid-tempo melodies with some funky Latin-flavored backing grooves provided by drummer Herbie Lovelle and percussionist Marcelino Valdez. Some of the highlight's include opening cuts "Slave Maidens" and "Baion Baby" among others. In all, Primitivo Soul represents one of the saxophonist's finest explorations into Latin jazz.

Sonny Stitt - Baion Baby

Alex Puddu - The Golden Age Of Danish Pornography

Easily one of my favorite albums of 2012 was Alex Puddu's funky erotic groove masterpiece The Golden Age Of Danish Pornography. As the title suggests, this album served as the soundtrack to a series of short Danish porno films from the seventies. The Danish composer/musician successfully produces an erotic gem featuring a heavy dose of funky grooves that sound like they came out of the same seventies era as the series of short films they provide music for. Some of my favorite cuts include "The Barber Shop", "Kinky Hairdresser", "Sex Bar" and "XXX Action". Regardless on your overall stance on the world of pornography, this is a truly an amazing record that features funky grooves for days!

Alex Puddu - The Barber Shop