BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Reissues & Lost Recordings of 2021
Over the past twelve months, not only was there a tremendous amount of great new music put out into the world, but we also saw a high-level of incredible reissue releases, including many previously unreleased recordings that had been shelved for 30-40 years or more.
Out of all the 2021 BeatCaffeine “Favorites” lists, this one was by far the most difficult, but yet, most enjoyable to put together. This year there was so many quality reissues, as well as what I’m calling “lost recordings” (meaning the material was shelved for multiple decades and released for the first time), that if time permitted, this list could have probably easily been 100 recordings deep. From the many mind-blowing releases the resurfaced out of the regions of South African, Japan, Brazil and beyond, to the ongoing essential albums being reissued by Jazz Room Records, Strut, Mr Bongo, Far Out Recordings and others, it’s hard to think of a year that had so many remarkable recordings from the past be unearthed and made available again (and for some, the first time).
Even though there are plenty of “must-own” reissued 12inch and 7inch singles that came out in 2021, this list purely sticks to albums. Over the next couple weeks, I will try to put together at least a top 10 or more of those recordings as well.
Finally, I just want to say thank you to all the labels that continue to put out appropriately licensed and well-crafted reissue releases. Without the extremely hard work that goes into releasing this material, so much of this timeless music would never be heard, and the artists responsible for the music also wouldn’t receive the overdue appreciation they deserve.
With that being said, here is BeatCaffeine’s ‘Favorite Reissues & Lost Recordings’ of 2021.
25. Ken Rhodes — ‘Profile’
(Originally released: 1974 / AMAYANA)
(Reissued: 2021 / Sconsolato)
Originally released by the small German jazz label AMAYANA, this album represents the well-travelled composer and pianist Ken Rhodes’ most notable work as a bandleader. Backed by his superb trio featuring bassist Joachim Knauer and drummer George Greene, the album features a solid dose of uptempo soulful jazz-funk grooves, combined with some more bluesy moments. This record has the feel of a live smokey small club session that can certainly work on the jazz dancefloors.
24. Esperanto — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1980 / CBS)
(Reissued: 2021 / Favorite Recordings)
The always-brilliant French label Favorite Recordings reissued the incredible hard-to-find self-titled 1980 jazz-funk/fusion masterpiece from the Venezuelan ensemble Esperanto. Heavily influenced by jazz, funk, British rock and Brazilian influences, while also incorporating Latin-rooted sounds, the group was able to produce a unique jazz-fusion session that leaned on Latin funk and cosmic synthesizer-based grooves.
23. Eboni Band — s/t
(Originally released: 1980 / Eboni Records)
(Reissued: 2021 / We Are Busy Bodies)
Toronto based record label We Are Busy Bodies reissued the rare 1980 recording by the collaborative supergroup ensemble Eboni Band, featuring musicians from both the Ivory Coast based Eboni Records and prime Motown session players, including funk legend and longtime JB’s bandleader Fred Wesley. Produced by Art Stewart, who was known for his work with Marvin Gaye and Rick James, this brilliant session brings together the Detroit inspired soul and funk grooves with West Africa rooted vocals, harmonies and instrumentation.
22. José Carlos Schwarz & Le Cobiana Djazz — ‘Lua Ki Di Nos’ (Retrospective)
(Hot Mule / Recorded in 1978)
In 2021, the Paris-based label Hot Mule released an incredible retrospective celebrating the music of poet and activist José Carlos Schwarz and his superb group Le Cobiana Djazz, who were highly influential and outspoken in the fight for the West African county of Guinea-Bissau’s independence during the 70s. The recording highlights José Carlos Schwarz & Cobiana Djazz greatest works from 1970 through 1973, featuring a brilliant mix of Gumbé, African folk, and Highlife grooves.
21. Nyssa Musique — ‘Comme Au Moulin’
(Originally released: 1985 / self-released)
(Reissued: 2021 / Ici Bientôt)
French label Ici Bientôt has unearthed and reissued an incredible 1985 spiritual and meditative album, titled Comme Au Moulin by a highly innovative five-piece Paris-based collective called Nyssa Musique, whom were born out ongoing rehearsals that took place in a contemporary dance class hall, upstairs from the notable venue New Morning. This superb recording features a unique mix of jazz, minimal music, traditionally rooted sounds from Middle East, India, East Asia, and Africa, rhythmic hand percussion grooves, and an exploration into electric atmospheric synthesizer tones.
20. Teaspoon And The Waves — s/t
(Originally released: 1977 / Soul Jazz Pop)
(Reissued: 2021 / Mr Bongo)
UK’s Mr Bongo reissued Teaspoon And The Waves’ rare 1977 self-titled album, which is considered by many as one of the greatest South African jazz-funk albums ever recorded. Over the year’s the record has received much attention from DJs and collectors alike for it’s massive dancefloor classic “Oh Yeh Soweto”, which is an incredible adaptation of Lamont Dozier’s anthem “Going Back to My Roots”. Great from start to finish, the entire album fuses together elements of jazz-funk with Afro-synths, disco, feel-good reggae vibes, and funky tropical grooves.
19. Roy Brooks — ‘Understanding’ (RSD Special)
(Reel-to-Reel / Recorded in 1970)
Released this year on Record Store Day, Understanding is a previously unreleased 3-LP recording of from legendary drummer Roy Brooks, captured live by the Left Bank Jazz Society at The Famous Ballroom in Baltimore, MD on November 1, 1970. Well over two hours of music, this session was recorded five months after the spiritual jazz classic live album The Free Slave (which was also recorded by the Left Bank Jazz Society). Brooks is backed by a phenomenal band that includes trumpeter Woody Shaw, saxophonist Carlos Garnett, pianist Harold Mabern and bassist Cecil McBee.
18. Mankunku Quartet — ‘Yakhal’ Inkomo’
(Originally released: 1968 / World Record Co.)
(Reissued: 2021 / Mr Bongo)
Clocking in at just over 30 minutes of jazz perfection, Mr Bongo reissued one of the greatest South African jazz recordings of all-time in Yakhal’ Inkomo by tenor saxophonist Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi and his quartet. The 1968 session is built up of two original works by Mankunku on the A-side, “Yakhal’ Inkomo” and “Dedication (To Daddy Trane and Brother Shorter)”, and on the B-side, the Horace Silver composition “Doodlin”, John Coltrane’s “Bessie’s Blues”. This is up there with any of those essential late post-bop recordings their were being released by Impulse! and Blue Note in the late sixties.
17. Kenny Mann With Liquid Pleasure — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1980 / Heartbeat Records)
(Reissued: 2021 / Mad About Records)
Portugal’s Mad About Records reissued the 1980 “Holy Grail” album from Kenny Mann with Liquid Pleasure. nicely blends together elements of modern soul, early boogie, soul jazz, and cosmic funk. The group’s only full-length album was originally released in very small quantities by a local press in North Carolina, and it nicely blends together elements of modern soul, early boogie, soul jazz, and cosmic funk. The superb soulful feel-good jazz dance groover “Say What” is a massive dancefloor gem.
16. Francisco Mora Catlett — ‘Mora!’ & ‘Mora! II‘
(‘Mora!’ Originally released: 1986 / AACE Records)
(Reissued: 2021 / Far Out Recordings)
(‘Mora! II’ / Recorded in 1986)
Far Out Recordings reissued, for the first time ever on vinyl, two groundbreaking Latin jazz recordings, titled Mora! and Mora! II from Mexican-American percussionist and former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Francisco Mora Catlett. Following his time in the Arkestra, Mora settled in Detroit where he began working on his debut album, which became Mora!. Released in 1986, the music is highly influenced by Afro-Cuban and South American rhythms, blending together layered hypnotic percussion grooves with soulful jazz melodies. The equally brilliant Mora! II, recorded shortly after Mora!, featured an expanded line up that included trumpet legend and member of Detroit’s Tribe collective, Marcus Belgrave. On this follow-up session, which was shelved until 2012 and originally only available on CD, moves deeper into South America, exploring Brazilian-inspired melodies and samba rhythms.
15. The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble — ‘Le – Le’
(Originally released: 1987 / Silk Skin Records)
(Reissued: 2021 / Jazzroom Records)
One of the many essential reissue releases by legendary jazz DJ Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records in 2021. The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble is an adventurous Philadelphia region group that was established in 1979 and continues to be led by producer, composer, and acoustic bassist Warren Oree. For this incredible November 1986 session, the band blends together a brilliant mix of Afro-Cuban and Middle Eastern-influenced melodies and funky rhythms with soulful spiritual jazz grooves and avant-garde improvisation.
14. Theatre West — ‘Bow to the People’
(Originally released: 1993 / Black Fire Records)
(Reissue: Strut)
In 2021, London’s Strut Records released a string of outstanding releases exploring the vaults of Jimmy Gray’s now considered legendary Richmond, Virginia based label Black Fire Records. One of those releases was the highly in-demand reissue of Bow To The People by Dayton, Ohio theater collective Theatre West. Upon returning from the Vietnam War, founder Clarence Young III, who had been a part of a theatrical troupe during his time in the military, established Theatre West in 1969, a Dayton theater company with the goal of providing a creative outlet for inner city youth in the region. Over time Young became widely respected as a playwright, and the theater collective grew to upwards of 27 incredibly talented individuals that eventually went on to perform on Broadway, and in groundbreaking groups like Gil Scott Heron’s Midnight Band and Slave. In 1976, the collective recorded an album at Arrest studios in Washington featuring songs from several of Theatre West’s best known plays including Bow To The People, The System and Black Love. The themes of these selections explored serious issues around drug addiction, mental health and cultural awareness. The original session blends together cosmic grooves, spiritual jazz, and funk with heartfelt soulful vocals.
13. Kamal Abdul-Alim — ‘Dance‘ (RSD Special)
(Originally Released: 1987 / 52e Rue East)
(Reissued: Soul Brother Records)
A highly sought after rare jazz-funk masterpiece from trumpeter Kamal Abdul Alim, which was originally released in 1987 on the small French label 52e Rue East, and later on Stash Records. This album, which includes many great tracks like “Brotherhood” (#88 on the BeatCaffeine’s 100 Jazz-Funk Songs of All-Time) and the title track “Dance”, features a solid cast of musicians including saxophonists Bobby Watson, James Spaulding, and drummer Idris Muhammad.
12. The Mallory Hall Band — ‘Song Of Soweto‘ & ‘The Last Special‘
(Both originally released: 1974 / IRC)
(Both reissued: Outernational Sounds)
London-based Outernational Sounds reissued, for the first time outside of South Africa, two superb 1974 Johannesburg sessions Song Of Soweto and The Last Special from an all-star U.S. touring band led by both guitarist Charles Mallory and trombonist Al Hall Jr., known simply as the The Mallory Hall Band. Recorded during the apartheid at Johannesburg’s Video Sounds Studios, these previously lost sessions ultimately came together when members of Detroit vocalist Lovelace Watkins’ big band had some downtime between dates during their South African tour. These recordings feature a stellar 12-piece group that included some heavyweight players including legendary pianist Kirk Lightsey, and Black Jazz recording artist Rudolph Johnson. Musically, both albums are incredible, featuring a nice blend of funky soul jazz, Latin rhythms, and South Africa township grooves.
11. Arthur Russell — ‘Another Thought’
(Originally released: 1994 / Point Music)
(Reissued: Be With Records)
Originally released only on CD format in 1994, just two year’s after the musical genius known as Arthur Russell passed away, this left-field spiritual post-disco masterpiece finally saw an official vinyl reissue from UK-based Be With Records. Even though this recording is very much considered a compilation of previously unreleased material, this is an argument to be had that this is the composer and cellist’s greatest album, featuring classic tracks like “Another Thought”, “A Little Lost”, “This Is How We Walk On The Moon”, “Keeping Up”, “In The Light Of The Miracle” “My Tiger, My Timing” and so many others.
10. Shamek Farrah And Folks — ‘La Dee La La’
(Originally released: 1978 / RA Records)
(Reissued: 2021 / Jazz Room Records)
Another of the many essential Jazz Room Records’ reissues in 2021 was Shamek Farrah And Folks‘ nearly impossible-to-find 1978 funky spiritual jazz album La Dee La La, featuring trumpet great Malachi Thompson of Chicago’s influential collective AACM. For this incredible 1978 four-track session, which originally came out on Ra Records in 1980, the music is nice blend of spiritual melodies, layered horns, South African grooves, Latin-influenced percussion and funky rhythms. The record also features the jazz dancefloor classic “Waiting For Marvin”!
9. Southern Energy Ensemble — ‘Southern Energy’
(Released: 1993 / Black Fire Records)
(Reissued: 2021 / Strut)
Strut Records’ reissue of Southern Energy Ensemble’s 1977 masterpiece Southern Energy was another incredible “must-have” release from their superb Black Fire Records series. Incredible from start to finish, this seven-track recording features a mix of jazz-funk, soulful spiritual grooves and melodies, heavy-hitting funk, and African-influenced percussion rhythms.
8. Unknown Artist — ‘Untitled’
(Originally released: unknown)
(Reissued: 2021 / Tramp Records)
To celebrate Tramp Record’s 100th release, the German-based label put out one of the rarest spiritual jazz-funk recordings you will ever come across. This recording is so obscure, as it was originally released as an acetate, their is no real information about the artists, tracks, recording, etc. That being said, with one listen, this record will sky to the top of your Discogs wishlist. Limited to just 505 copies, this record is already now going for around $100 and climbing.
7. Roots — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1975 / Highway Soul)
(Reissued: 2021 / Frederiksberg Records)
New York-based Frederiksberg Records reissued officially for the first time, the highly-obscure 1975 self-titled debut album by the South African jazz ensemble Roots, led by master saxophonist and one of the greatest musicians to ever come out of Johannesburg, Barney Rachabane. This absolutely brilliant recording nicely blends together township soul, Afro-jazz, spiritual melodies, and mellow funk grooves. The album truly captures the essence of the early 1970s South African jazz sound that would eventually help open the door for groundbreaking jazz fusion groups like Pacific Express and Spirits Rejoice.
6. Khan Jamal — ‘Infinity’
(Originally released: 1984 / Jambrio)
(Reissued: 2021 / Jazz Room Records)
Another outstanding release from Jazz Room Records, this brilliant 1984 album from vibraphonist Khan Jamal nicely balances hypnotic spiritual melodies with soul jazz grooves and layered percussion rhythms. Even though it was recorded in the mid-eighties, the recording captures the vibe of those classic late-sixties albums on Blue Note, Prestige, and Impulse!. One of the many standout tracks, “The Known Unknown” became a favorite among DJs and collectors during the Acid Jazz heydays of the 1990s.
5. Alice Coltrane — ‘Kirtan: Turiya Sings’
(Impulse! / Recorded in 1982)
Originally released in 1982 on cassette as a collection of devotional songs including vocals, organ, strings, and synthesizers available only at Alice’s Sai Anantam Ashram. In 2004, Alice’s son Ravi Coltrane discovered mixes of Turiya Sings that were stripped down to just his mother’s voice and organ. Many years later, Ravi convinced Impulse! to release this version as Kirtan: Turiya Sings, and make this incredibly spiritual material widely available to the public for the first time. This enchanting release has a similar feel to Alice’s other most recent 2017 posthumous release on Luaka Bop, titled The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda. This is spiritual music at it’s very best.
4. José Mauro — ‘A Viagem Das Horas’
(Far Out Recordings / Recorded in 1970)
In what comes with a remarkable backstory, London’s Far Out Recordings reissued for the first time ever, the 1970 forgotten masterpiece from Brazilian composer, singer, and guitarist José Mauro, titled A Viagem Das Horas. This exciting new issue of the recording also includes three previously unreleased and unheard tracks from the original studio sessions. Much of this incredible 11-track recording comes from the same sessions that produced Obnoxius, featuring a brilliant mix of MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), psychedelic folk, and a touch of samba and Tropicália featuring beautiful soulful vocals, acoustic guitars, string orchestrations, spiritual melodies, and more.
3. Sun Ra — ‘Lanquidity‘ (Definitive 4LP Box Set)
(Originally released: 1978 / Philly Jazz)
(Reissued: 2021 / Strut)
In one of the most highly-anticipated releases of 2021, Strut put out a definitive edition 4LP box set of Sun Ra’s classic Lanquidity album from 1978 featuring the widely distributed version of the album alongside alternative mixes by Bob Blank originally released in limited quantities for a 1978 Arkestra gig at Georgia Tech. Arguably Sun Ra’s most groove-oriented recording, often described as his “dance record,” the session features spacey keyboard and synth melodies, electric guitar solos, layered horns, backed by steady funky rhythms. Absolutely essential!
2. Ron Everett — ‘Glitter of The City’
(Originally released: 1977 / Vagabond King)
(Reissued: 2021 / Jazzman Records)
One can make the argument, that the term “Holy Grail” is sometimes used a bit too loosely, however that certainly isn’t the case when applied to Ron Everett’s 1977 obscure soul jazz masterpiece Glitter Of The City. Originally self-released in 1977 on a shoestring budget, UK’s Jazzman Records reissued the essential recording as a part of it’s ongoing superb Jazzman Holy Grail series. Originally recorded as a seven-track album and circulated in small quantities among the Philadelphia region, this incredible recording spans a lot of territory, from soulful jazz grooves and blues, to spiritual jazz and Latin rhythms. Numbered and limited to just 1500 copies, this is one of the greatest reissues you’ll ever come across, period.
1.Marcos Resende & Index — ‘s/t’
(Far Out Recordings / Recorded in 1976)
Far Out Recordings unearthed and put out the previously unreleased 1976 self-titled debut jazz-funk album by Brazilian keyboardist, composer, and bandleader Marcos Resende and his group Index. This incredible album was recorded prior to the group’s only other release, the highly sought after 1978 album Festa Para Um Novo Rei. This project came together following Resende’s return to Brazil after a period of living in Lisbon and being exposed to US jazz and British progressive rock, while touring and performing in a prog-rock group named Status. Recorded at Sonoviso Studios with the legendary sound engineer Toninho Barbosa, known as the ‘Brazilian Rudy Van Gelder’, the group’s debut six-track album brilliantly blends together cosmic analog synth and electric piano melodies with funky bass lines, wah-wah guitars, saxophone and flute solos, and a mixture of Brazilian percussion and prog-like drum grooves. Shelved for over 40 years, thanks to Joe Davis at Far Out, this recording finally saw the light of day and is definitely already an instant classic!
