Tag: Reissue
Due to popular demand, the Portuguese-based Mad About Records has reissued, for a second time, Reggie Andrews and The Fellowship’s highly obscure 1969 spiritual jazz masterpiece Mystic Beauty. The first pressing of this reissue sold out very quickly last year, following it’s late July release.
Now in their 31st year, the Brighton-based label Mr Bongo has consistently been at the forefront in releasing some of the deepest and most obscure Brazilian reissues. This year, the label/record shop has re-launched their well-curated series of classic Brazilian 45s, featuring a vibrant new design, and a fresh batch of unearthed Brazilian rarities.
Portugese-based label Mad About Records continues their string of truly essential reissues with the release of Syncro Jazz’s extremely rare 1982 live album featuring legendary Brazilian saxophonist Nestico Aguiar, and his sister, pianist Lilu.
Gilles Peterson launches his brand new reissue label Arc Records, focusing on rare and interesting records from his basement vaults, with the experimental jazz recording Musica Infinita from by Mexican drummer and composer Tino Contreras.
With so many incredible reissues in 2019, I decided to break-up this year’s “best of” into two sections, full length albums and singles. Out of all the lists I put together for these year-end posts, both reissue lists were probably the most challenging to compile.
Just as we’ve seen over the past few years, there continues to be many high quality reissues released on an annual basis, even to the point that this has become the main focus for some labels. With prices for original copies of many records continuing to become more and more pricey, the actual need for affordable reissued releases seems to be more an more necessary.
For the second time in two decades, Soul Jazz Records has reissued legendary drummer Steve Reid’s 1976 spiritual jazz masterpiece Rhythmatism, which is one of the most sought-after and adventurous recordings of it’s time.
Respected vinyl collector, selector, and Mr Bongo family member Gary Johnson has started a new label Pressure Makes Diamonds, focusing on making obscure and pricey recordings available to the masses. This UK-based record label’s first reissue release is the impossible-to-find 1980 jazz-funk twelve-inch single Paradise Island from Florida’s Azwon.
Edinburgh’s Athens Of The North have put out a brand new double vinyl compilation titled Disco With A Feeling featuring many of the label’s most sought after 7inch reissue releases and highly obscure dancefloor gems.
Recently, Far Out Recordings has reissued two obscure mid-seventies Brazilian jazz fusion recordings from multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ana Mazzotti, who fellow Brazilian musician icon Hermeto Pascoal dubbed a “super-musician.” These were unfortunately Mazzotti’s only two studio recordings, as she unfortunately passed away in her mid-thirties due to losing her battle with cancer.
