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.

Originally released on the Japanese label Trio Records, this incredible 7-track full-length features funky large-ensemble renditions of soul classics like James Brown’s “Ain’t It Funky Now”, The Impressions’ “Check-Out Your Mind,” Otis Redding’s “Sitting On The Dock of the Bay,” and quite possibly the best rendition (other than Marvin Gaye’s original version) of “What’s Going On”. The record also features superb takes on Eddie Harris’s “Sham Time,” The Crusaders’ “Greasy Spoon,” and Honda’s original cut “Ain’t Tell You A Good Way But”.

The session features a heavy-dose of Hammond B3-organ grooves by Honda, who also holds it down on both acoustic and electric piano. He’s backed here by a large horn section, guitar, bass, drums and additional percussion.

With original copies extremely difficult to come by, and now also quite expensive, it’s great to see this essential jazz dance floor gem reissued and made available to new generations of listeners, collectors, and enthusiasts.

T. Honda — ‘What’s Going On’
(Originally released: 1973 / Trio Records)
(Reissued: 2023 / Jazz Room Records)

1. Ain’t Tell You A Good Way But
2. Check-out Your Mind
3. Ain’t Funky Now
4. What’s Going On
5. Sham Time
6. Greasy Spoon
7. Dock Of The Bay

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• Jazz
• Jazz Dance
• Jazz Funk
• Reissue