BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Reissues, Lost Recordings & Retrospectives of 2022
As with new releases, 2022 was a remarkable year for reissues and previously unreleased recordings. It feels like with every great new release or artists that breaks through on the scene, there are still so many records from the past to still discover, or make more readily available again. I also feel that with each year that goes by, the quality of reissues get’s better and better. The care and work that goes into many of these releases is astonishing.
Trying to narrow down my favorite reissues, unreleased albums from the past, and new retrospectives is about as challenging to put together as any of the year-end lists on this site. As always, there were many amazing releases (too many!) that didn’t make this year’s list, however that doesn’t mean they weren’t worthy by any stretch (I would be organizing this post for months if I tried to include them all).
For this list, I focused solely on full-length reissues. With a few weeks left in the calendar year, the goal is to do another feature on some of my favorite reissued 12inch and 7inch singles (plenty of ground to cover there).
Again, shoutout to all the labels and people behind these reissued releases. You can truly tell that this is a labor of love, and record collectors/DJs continue to be indebted to those that make these titles available again (or for the first time).
With that being said, here are BeatCaffeine’s ‘Favorite Reissues, Lost Recordings & Retrospectives of 2022’!
25. The Jazz Clan — ‘Dedication’
(Originally released: 1973 / Gallo)
(Reissued: Outernational Sounds)
Harv Nagi’s Outernational Sounds reissued one of the rarest and most sought after South African recordings of the early 1970s in The Jazz Clan’s Dedication. Available again for the first time since its original South African release in 1973, this essential 6-track album features a great mix of swinging township grooves with uptempo soul-jazz.
24. Ahmad Jamal Trio — ‘Live In Paris 1971: Lost ORTF Recordings’
(1971 / Transversales Disques)
Following the release of two incredible previously unreleased live sessions by jazz greats Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp, the French label Transversales Disques issued the third of their brilliant Lost ORTF Recordings series featuring a 1971 Paris recording featuring legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal and his trio. Recorded at the Grand Auditorium Studio 104 in the Maison de la Radio, the trio, who also features Jamil Nasser on double bass and Frank Gant on drums perform expanded renditions of three tracks often associated with Ahmad, including “Bogota” (by Richard Evans), “Effendi” (by McCoy Tyner), and his own composition, “Manhattan Reflections”.
23. Noel McGhie & Space Spies — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1975 / Disques Espérance)
(Reissued: 2022 / Comet)
French label Comet, run by founder Eric Trosset, reissued the extremely hard-to-find 1975 jazz-funk masterpiece from drummer Noel McGhie, under the album title Noel McGhie & Space Spies. Originally released by the French private label Disques Esperance around the time McGhie was making waves among the vibrant local Free Jazz scene (performing with Archie Shepp, Steve Lacy, Francois Tusques, Anthony Braxton, and others) this 5-track recording features a heavy dose of deep spiritual and funky soulful groovers. With original copies now going for $200-400 and the 2015 Superfly Records reissue climbing to around $100, it’s great to see this jazz-funk essential receive another proper reissue release.
22. Compass — ‘Compass Rises’
(Originally released: 1973 / Schoolhouse Productions)
(Reissued: Frederiksberg Records)
Over the last couple years, New York’s Frederiksberg Records has put out some of the highest quality and rarest reissue releases. This past spring, the label re-released the highly obscure 1973 deep spiritual jazz private press recording by New York-based quartet Compass, titled Compass Rises. The album represents the only recording by the quartet, which was regularly active in upstate New York between 1969 and 1974. Brilliant from start to finish, the record features a superb selection of tracks that fluctuate between post-Coltrane modal and deep spiritual grooves to jazz-funk with a touch of Latin-influenced percussion.
21. John Patton — ‘Soul Connection’
(Originally released: 1983 / Nilva Records)
(Reissued: Jazz Room Records)
Legendary Hammond B3 organist “Big” John Patton was one of the most influential artists among the 60s soul jazz movement, releasing numerous classic recordings for Blue Note Records like Along Came John, Let ‘Em Roll, Understanding, and many others. Thanks to Paul Murphy and his Jazz Room Records, his lesser known but equally brilliant 1983 album Soul Connection received a much-welcomed reissue. For this funky soulful session, Patton is backed by a superb group made up of jazz heavyweights, including Alvin Queens on drums, avant garde trombonist Grachan Moncur III, guitarist Melvin Sparks, saxophonist Grant Reed. This is just one of the many essential reissue releases Jazz Room Records put out in 2022!
20. Nico Gomez — ‘Soul Of Samba’
(Originally released: 1972 / Trio Records)
(Reissued: Mr Bongo)
Originally released in 1972, this superb twelve-track recording falls right in line with the album’s title, blending together a mix of Samba grooves, Bossa Nova, Brazilian and European jazz influences. The record also includes two massive jazz dance cuts in “Rio” and “Aquarela”, as well as the breezy Latin-funk track “Agua”. Renditions of Brazilian/Jobim classics “Desafinado”, “The Girl From Ipanema”, and “One Note Samba” also make their way onto to this timeless recording.
19. Sun Ra Arkestra Meets Salah Ragab Plus The Cairo Jazz Band — ‘In Egypt’
(Originally released: 1983 / Praxis)
(Reissued: Strut)
Following last year’s Record Store Box set and individual album releases, London’s Strut Records continued it’s exploration into Sun Ra Arkestra’s historic recordings in Egypt with a reissue of the 1983 collaborative album with the great Egyptian percussionist and drummer Salah Ragab and his large ensemble, The Cairo Jazz Band. This first ever official reissue of the album features previously unseen photos and memorabilia alongside brand new liner notes by Hartmut Geerken and Paul Griffiths.
18. Ian Carr — ‘Belladonna’
(Originally released: 1972 / Vertigo)
(Reissued: Mr Bongo)
This past spring, UK-based record shop and label Mr Bongo reissued a half-speed mastered edition of the iconic 1972 jazz-rock-fusion album Belladonna from British trumpeter great Ian Carr. This groundbreaking recording was a part of Carr’s adventurous shift in sound following a number of years during the late 60s performing and recording with the legendary post-hard bop ensemble, The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet. Over the course of the album, which takes the listener on a sonic journey through many different moods and sounds, blends together cosmic jazz, prog-rock, dark hypnotic cinematic tones, soaring horn melodies, and funk grooves. Fans of Miles Davis In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi, and Soft Machine’s 1970 jazz-rock gem Third should definitely check this out!
17. David Wertman & Sun Ensemble — ‘Wide Eye Culture’
(Originally released: 1983 / Sunmuse Records)
(Reissued: BBE Music)
Following the 2019 BBE Music reissue of bassist David Wertman’s 1978 Sun Ensemble debut Earthly Delights, the London-based label re-released an expansive version of the group’s 1983 spiritual jazz album Wide Eye Culture. Moving away from the more free-improvisational direction, Wide Eye Culture is much more spiritual, blending together hypnotic rhythms, with earthy tones, and Meryl’s haunting, yet acrobatic vocals. The recording, at times, even breaks into some more jazz dance-like grooves.
16. Alan Braufman — ‘Live in New York City, February 8, 1975’
(1975 / Valley Of Search)
After being shelved for 47 years, an incredible 1975 live session for New York City’s listener-supported WBAI radio station featuring saxophonist, flautist, and composer Alan Braufman and his superb sextet received an official release. Recorded with a live studio audience shortly after the release of Braufman’s groundbreaking “loft jazz” classic Valley Of Search for the India Navigation label, this 94-minute performance features live expanded renditions of material from that essential recording. Spread over five album sides on 3xLPs, the stellar group fuses together hypnotic and pulsating rhythms, to spiritual meditative grooves and dance-like trances with soaring horn solos and layered percussion.
15. Tony Lavorgna and the St. Thomas Quartet — ‘Chameleon’
(Originally released: 1982 / Antelope Records Inc)
(Reissued: Jazz Room Records)
Tony Lavorgna and The St. Thomas Quartet’s 1982 soul jazz album Chameleon saw a much-welcomed reissue in 2022. This private-press recording from the Ohio group features two massive jazz funk covers in Herbie Hancock and The Headhunters’ “Chameleon” and War’s “The World Is A Ghetto”. With David Thomas laying down some foundational funky Hammond B3 organ grooves with some soulful saxophone playing from Lavorgna, both of the group’s versions are right up their with the classic originals. This was another must-own release issued by Jazz Room Records this year!
14. Los Kenya — ¡Siempre Afro-Latino!
(Originally released: 1968 / Velvet)
(Reissued: Olindo Records)
Over this past summer, London-based Olindo Records reissued one of the rarest and most essential recordings to come out of the Venezuelan salsa scene during the late sixties, in Los Kenya’s 1968 album ¡Siempre Afro-Latino!. Led by pianist Ray Perez, who following a stint in New York sharing the stage with Kako’s New York After Hour Orchestra, returned to Venezuela in the late 60s and under the influence of bandmates Luis Arias and Alfredo Naranjo formed Los Kenya. On this album, the 9-piece group cooks up a heavy dose of salsa and jazz dance grooves all primed to heat up the tropical dance floor.
13. Bhakti Jazz — ‘First Step’
(Originally released: 1980 / Bhakti Records)
(Reissued: Perfect.Toy Records)
The German-based Perfect.Toy Records, who also re-released Bobby Cole’s 1967 A Point of View LP (see later in the list), officially reissued the incredible rare vocal jazz album, First Step by the Munich-based group Bhakti Jazz. Originally self-released in limited quantities back in 1980, this widely eclectic 9-track recording spans a lot of territory stylistically, from the brilliant acrobatic vocal jazz cuts “Glimpses of Truth,” and “Eastern Moods”, to the more avant deep jazz selections like “Tutankhamun,” “Die Zeitmaschine,” and the Latin-tinged “Opes De Salsa”. This special reissue was limited to just 500 numbered copies.
12. Milt Ward And Virgo Spectrum — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1977 / Twin Quest)
(Reissued: Frederiksberg Records)
Another incredible reissue by Frederiksberg Records this year was Milt Ward’s extremely obscure 1977 adventurous cosmic jazz-funk album Milt Ward And Virgo Spectrum. Originally self-released by Ward himself, this 6-track album blends together soaring horn melodies and solos with cosmic keys and funky percussion grooves. For fans of Strata-East and Black Jazz, this music is right on par with many of the releases from those essential 70s era labels.
11. Count Ossie And The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari — ‘Grounded’
(Originally released: 1972 / New Dimension)
(Reissued: Soul Jazz Records)
Like Sun Ra’s Arkestra and John Coltrane are to jazz, the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari are to reggae – the ultimate expression of roots music and Rastafarian ideology in reggae music, music functioning at a high level of spiritual consciousness combined with an equally avant-garde and forward-looking approach to sound. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the group’s groundbreaking recording Grounded, London’s Soul Jazz Records made this long-revered and highly collectable album available again, including a one-off pressing limited-edition deluxe box set triple-vinyl edition complete with an additional 45inch single, art print poster, and an exact-replica reproduction of the 1977 Mystic Revelation zine. Grounded is a cornerstone in the history of reggae that stands the test of time.
10. Hermeto Pascoal E Grupo — ‘Planetário da Gávea’
(1981 / Far Out Recordings)
London’s Far Out Recordings always seems to dig up the rarest lost Brazilian nuggets each year, and 2022 was no different. Early in the year, the label put out a previously-unreleased 1981 live recording from adventurous Brazilian legend Hermeto Pascoal and his iconic band simply known as “O Grupo” (The Group). The incredible performance took place in front of a crowd gathered in Rio de Janeiro’s Gávea neighborhood under the iconic dome of the city’s Planetário (Planetarium). This was a highly anticipated event given that this was the band’s first live concert, and notable great musicians like Helio Delmiro, Milton Nascimento and others were in attendance. The series of concerts that took place at the Planetário ended up marking the birth of “O Grupo”, and apart from drummer/percussionist Zé Eduardo Nazário, the remarkable band would continue to remain intact with the same line-up for the next eleven years.
9. Robin Jones Quintet — ‘Denga‘
(Originally released: 1971 / Apollo Sound)
(Reissued: Jazz Room Records)
Another of the many fantastic releases from Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records was the reissue of Robin Jones Quintet’s 1971 Latin dancefloor cooker Denga. Known as the “Godfather of British Latin music,” Robin Jones and company clearly set the bar for Latin jazz with this 13-track masterpiece, featuring a heavy-hitting dose of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazillian rhythms fused with Fender Rhodes grooves, soulful flute and saxophone solos, and driving bass lines.
8. Ernesto Djédjé – ‘Roi Du Ziglibithy’
(1977 / Analog Africa)
As part of their Limited Dance Edition series, the outstanding German-label Analog Africa released an incredible 4-track collection of essential gems from legendary Ivorian artist better known as the “king of Ziglibithy,” Ernesto Djédjé. Along with a superb band, he went on to create a unique Ivorian and international rooted style of music that combined the rhythms and chants of the Bété people with Makossa, funk, and disco. The retrospective features some of Djédjé’s greatest songs, including the all-time classic “Ziglibithiens”.
7. Bobby Hamilton Quintet Unlimited — ‘Dream Queen’
(Originally released: 1972 / Alafia)
(Reissued: Now-Again Records)
For Record Store Day ‘Drop 2’ in July, Eothen “Egon” Alapatt’s Now-Again Records the extremely hard-to-find and well sought-after 1972 deep spiritual soul jazz album Dream Queen by the Bobby Hamilton Quintet Unlimited. Audio engineer Bernie Grundman was able to resequenced Bobby’s long lost master tape and lacquered this album in an all-analog transfer — making this the first time the record been reissued from the master tapes. The last clean copy Bobby Hamilton had, he sold to the musician Jamie XX in 2021 for a princely sum. Their were only 500 copies of the original pressed, which makes this limited-edition reissue even that more special.
6. Bobby Cole — ‘A Point Of View’
(Originally released: 1967 / Concentric)
(Reissued: 2022 / Omnivore Recordings & Perfect.Toy Records)
At different times this year, both Los Angeles-based Omnivore Recordings and Germany’s Perfect Toy Records officially reissued one of the greatest vocal jazz recordings of our time in Bobby Cole’s highly obscure 1967 album A Point Of View. This timeless 12-track masterpiece, which represents the only album from the late longtime Manhattan lounge singer (who had a longtime residency at Frank Sinatra’s bistro Jilly’s and occasionally arranged and conducted for Judy Garland), includes the jazz dance classic (and Tribe Jazz Favorite) “A Perfect Day”. Omnivore Recordings’ Black Friday RSD version also features 12 previously unissued bonus tracks drawn from sessions likely intended for a follow up release to A Point of View that didn’t happen.
5. Donald Byrd — ‘Live: Cookin’ with Blue Note at Montreux’
(1973 / Blue Note Records)
Following a thoughtful suggestion from London DJ, broadcaster, and producer Gilles Peterson after the passing of Donald Byrd in 2013, Blue Note records revitalized it’s acclaimed Live: Cookin’ with Blue Note at Montreux series with a never-heard-before 1973 live recording from the legendary trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. In celebration of what would have been the late jazz great’s 90th birthday, Blue Note finally released this incredible session, which featured a mind-blowing cast of musicians, including Fonce and Larry Mizell (aka the Mizell Brothers), saxophonist Nathan Davis, bassist Henry Franklin, and members of The Blackbyrds.
4. Carlos Franzetti — ‘Graffiti’
(Originally released: 1977 / Guiness Records)
(Reissued: Jazz Room Records)
Paul Murphy and his Jazz Room Records reissued many essential recordings in 2022, however arguably rising to the top of that impressive list of releases was Carlos Franzetti’s hard-to-find 1977 jazz dance classic album Graffiti. Recorded after the Argentinian composer, arranger and pianist had moved to NYC, this incredible recording didn’t receive much attention upon it’s initial release. Fast forward a number of years to London’s early jazz dance scene in the 80s when DJ’s pick-up on the all-time gem “Cocoa Funk”, and this record became highly sought-after by collectors. Featuring 6-tracks, the album fuses together jazz-funk, cosmic disco grooves, and soulful Latin-inspired percussion rhythms.
3. Arthur Verocai — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1972 / Continental)
(Reissued: Mr Bongo)
Back in 2017 for Record Store Day, @mrbongoworldwide put out an official reissue of Arthur Verocai’s 1972 Brazilian “holy grail” masterpiece. Since then, the UK-based label has reissued the album a number of times. Now celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary, Mr Bongo has put together an expansive special edition package commemorating it’s initial release.
This extremely well-crafted gatefold reissue, pressed on gold and black marbled color vinyl, also includes a 16-page booklet featuring an interview with Verocai, a poster and 10 glossy photo prints of images from the original recording session.
2. Joyce Moreno — ‘Natureza’
(1977 / Far Out Recordings)
After being shelved for 45 years, Far Out Recordings unearthed the previously unreleased 1977 album Natureza from legendary Brazilian singer and songwriter Joyce Moreno. This incredible release followed up the London-based label’s Record Store Day exclusive twelve-inch featuring the 11-minute version of the all-time jazz dance classic “Feminina”. Produced, arranged, and conducted by the great Claus Ogerman, the 7-track session includes notable Brazilian icon Mauricio Maestro (who wrote/co-wrote four of the songs), percussionists Nana Vasconcelos and Tutty Moreno, along with jazz legends Joe Farrell on flute, saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Buster Williams, vibraphonist Mike Manieri and a full orchestra.
1. Charles Stepney — ‘Step On Step’
(International Anthem)
In what truly became the “Summer of Stepney”, Chicago’s International Anthem unearthed and released the eponymous debut album, titled Step On Step, by the late great producer, arranger, and composer Charles Stepney (1931-1976), featuring never-heard-before 4-track tape demo recordings. During the 60s and 70s, Charles Stepney was a essential contributor to some of the greatest recordings of that time by Earth, Wind & Fire, Terry Callier, Ramsey Lewis, The Dells, The Rotary Connection, Deniece Williams, Minnie Riperton, Marlena Shaw, Muddy Waters, and so many others.
Known for his use of expansive orchestral horn and string arrangements on classic songs like Minnie Riperton’s “Les Fleurs,” Marlena Shaw’s “California Soul,” or Terry Callier’s “What Color Is Love,” this brilliant 23-track record features a more stripped-down minimalistic approach, with Stepney playing, alone, performing all the instruments, including using beat machines for drum rhythms. That being said, this lo-fi approach does not take away at all from the pure genius of what is essentially, in some instances, the earliest versions of classic songs including Earth, Wind & Fire’s “That’s The Way of The World,” “Imagination,” and “On Your Face,” as well as the original version of “Black Gold,” which would eventually be recorded by Phil Upchurch and later adapted by Rotary Connection (as “I Am The Black Gold of The Sun”).
