Jazz Room Records reissues rare & mysterious 1973 soul jazz recording ‘The Power of Feeling’

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Jazz Room Records reissues rare & mysterious 1973 soul jazz recording ‘The Power of Feeling’

Legendary UK deejay Paul Murphy and his Jazz Room Records label continue their impressive string of releases with the recent reissue of the highly-obscure 1973 soul jazz album The Power of Feeling from the somewhat mysterious artist Sir Edward, which was later identified as the unsung saxophonist great and flutist Harold Vick.

Originally released on drummer Bernard Purdie’s short lived, but excellent Encounter Label, this incredible soulful jazz-funk recording features a number of great tracks, including versions of “People Make The World Go Round” (made popular by The Stylistics), Ralph MacDonald’s “Where Is The Love” (often associated with Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway), the spiritual jazz gem “Peace, K.D.”, and a great rendition of “Keep On Moving On”, which Vick re-recorded a year later with Shirley Scott on her classic Strata-East album One For Me.

Vick passed away in 1987, and I’m unsure if it was ever revealed as to why for this album he went under a mysterious alias. Often it has to due with record labels having exclusive rights to recordings, however around the time of this recording, Vick was releasing music specifically on independent labels like Strat-East and Muse Records, and therefore this could have just been an artistic choice.

Regardless as to what led to the one-off “Sir Edwards” recording, it’s safe to say that this is one of Vick’s greatest releases as a bandleader, and an essential soul jazz gem from this era. With original copies now going for $150-250 and more, this is a very much welcomed reissue release.