Category: DIGGIN’ IN
Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records continues their string of must-own releases with the recent reissue of Japanese drummer Hideo Shiraki’s rare 1962 Brazilian jazz full-length, titled Hideo Shiraki Plays Bossa Nova.
Eothen “Egon” Alapatt’s superb Now-Again Records has recently reissued the Southern University Jazz Ensemble’s very rare 1973 spiritual jazz “Holy Grail” record, titled Goes to Africa With Love. Originally given away as souvenirs at Southern University, this represents the first-ever commercial release of this album.
Toronto-based record label We Are Busy Bodies has reissued the extremely rare 1979 soulful jazz-funk album Thrust by guitarist Wilbur Niles and his then-girlfriend, Machelle McNeal.
Legendary UK-based jazz dance DJ Paul Murphy and his fantastic label Jazz Room Records continue their onslaught of impressive releases with a welcomed reissue of Japanese pianist Takehiro Honda’s rare 1973 soul-jazz album What’s Going On.
The Italian-based label Eating Standing, which focuses on hi-quality reissues, has recently re-released the 1984 spiritual jazz-funk masterpiece Polygamy from producer, tenor saxophonist, and percussionist Mustafa Abdul Rahman.
Over the last few years, not only has Paul Murphy reissued a number of rare jazz dance and fusion gems through his label Jazz Room Records, he has put out a number of essential and rare Latin dancefloor recordings, including Tata Vasquez’s Ecstasy, Robin Jones led Denga and El Maja. This Spring, the UK label will reissue the 1981 album Con El Ritmo Del Tambó by the Nuyorican supergroup Orquesta Mayombe.
UK’s Far Out Recordings has recently issued the highly-anticipated previously unreleased 1975 recording, titled Starting Point, from the Brazilian fusion trio known as Grupo Um. Based out of São Paulo, the group features brothers Lelo Nazario (piano/keys) and Zé Eduardo Nazario (drums/percussion), alongside bassist Zeca Assumpção, whom made their mark performing in Hermeto Pascoal’s Grupo (included on Pascoal’s Viajando Com O Som: The Lost ’76 Vice-Versa Studio Session).
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of arguably the greatest Afrobeat album ever recorded, in Fela Kuti and The Africa 70’s Shakara, Brooklyn’s Partisan Records has put out a special edition reissue of the two-track classic that includes an additional 7inch record featuring new renditions of both “Lady” and “Shakara (Oloje)” by one of the leading lights among the London jazz scene, Ezra Collective.
The legendary London-based Decca Records continues their superb British Jazz Explosion Series, with two massive additions in trumpeter Harry Beckett‘s 1970 heavy-hitting classic Flare-Up and the groundbreaking large ensemble masterpiece Tales Of The Algonquin led by John Surman and John Warren.
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.
