Favorite Recordings continues it’s dive into rare jazz-funk on ‘Fusion Global Sounds Vol 2’
Building off the foundation of last year’s superb Fusion Global Sounds compilation release (included on BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2022), Favorite Recordings comes back with the second edition of the series, featuring eight obscure jazz-funk and fusion tracks produced between 1976 and 1984 in various parts of the world.
Compiled by Favorite Recordings founder, label boss, and notable record collector Charles Maurice, this brilliant recording spans many regions including from Brazil, Philippines, Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, with a sound that leans more Brazilian in style. There is everything here from jazz dance and cosmic grooves, to samba, tropical fusion, and mellower atmospheric vibes.
Some Interesting Insights Provided by the Label on a Few Tracks
The compilation starts with Lerma dela Cruz, a quite occult songstress from Philippines. “Free” was part of a very rare compilation titled Tropical Jazz Fusion, released in 1983 on A&W Horizon label. With its blowing samba / jazz-funk vibes, it was an obvious match to open this collection. The following song could only enhance this ambience, since that of Brazilian saxophonist, Nivaldo Ornelas, present on this opus with two titles taken from his album A Tarde (1983). On “Cactus”, Nivaldo is supported on keyboards by his friend Marcos Resende, both also known for their album on the MPBC series released by Phonogram-Polygram between 1978 and 1981, which has clearly been an inspiration for Charles Maurice in building this second edition.
Overall, this is a fantastic follow-up release, featuring some impossible-to-find nuggets that you’ll not come across anywhere else. Definitely one of the must-own compilations of 2023!
Various — ‘Fusion Global Sounds Vol. 2’
(Favorite Recordings)
- Lerma dela Cruz – Free
- Nivaldo Ornelas – Cactus
- Krystyna Prońko – Oto Przyczyna
- Bobby Martinez – Pendulum
- Tom Grant – Mystified
- Nivaldo Ornelas – Los Angeles
- Carlos Mendes – Oamoréomar
- Dana Kaproff – Brownstones
