Category: DIGGIN’ IN

Jazzman Records reissues Ron Everett’s 1977 obscure soul jazz holy grail ‘Glitter of The City’

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 has recently reissued the essential recording as a part of it’s ongoing superb Jazzman Holy Grail series.

Byard Lancaster ‎– My Pure Joy

Strut releases Byard Lancaster’s 1992 soulful spiritual jazz album ‘My Pure Joy’ on vinyl for the first time

Following last year’s phenomenal compilation Soul Love Now and a number of revisited album releases from groundbreaking artists like Oneness Of Juju (aka Juju), Lon Moshe, and others, London’s Strut Records continues it’s ongoing spotlight on the now considered legendary Richmond, Virginia label Black Fire (run by Jimmy Gray) with a reissue of the late Philadelphia reedman Byard Lancaster’s 1992 soulful spiritual jazz recording My Pure Joy. Originally released on CD three years after it was recorded, due the label’s financial challenges, this marks the first time this album has ever been released on vinyl.

José Carlos Schwarz & Le Cobiana Djazz

Hot Mule releases retrospective of Guinea-Bissau activist and poet José Carlos Schwarz & Le Cobiana Djazz

The Paris-based label Hot Mule, which has produced some of the best reissues over the past few years, has just 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.

Billie Harris — I Want Some Water

Nimbus West reissues Billie Harris’ soulful spiritual jazz masterpiece ‘I Want Some Water’ on vinyl

Over the last several years, Nimbus West, who released some of the greatest recordings to come out of the spiritual Jazz scene in Los Angeles during the late 70s and early 80s has been diving deep back into it’s vaults and unearthing a number of incredible sessions. Most recently, they have issued saxophonist Billie Harris‘ masterful 1980 album I Want Some Water on vinyl for the first time.