Solid Records Japan

Lonnie Smith - Keep On Lovin' (1976) {Groove Merchant–Solid Records Japan CDSOL-45933 rel 2018}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 237 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb
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© 1976, 2018 Groove Merchant / Ultra-Vibe / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-45933
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Keyboards

Lonnie Smith's a long way from his Blue Note years here – but the sound is still plenty darn great, thanks to some fuller arrangements from the great Brad Baker – of B Baker Chocolate Company fame! The whole thing's quite electric – with Lonnie on Fender Rhodes and other keyboards on most tracks, and rhythms that bring in bits of strings amidst the smaller jazz combo vamping – a blend that's smoothly soulful, but still more than funky enough to please our ears. Lonnie even sings a bit on the record, too – in this slightly-spacey quality that has echoes of Stevie Wonder – but the main focus overall is on his keyboards, which step out nicely over the backings.

Lonnie Smith - Funk Reaction (1977) {Groove Merchant–Solid Records Japan CDSOL-45955 rel 2019}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 279 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 94 Mb
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© 1977, 2019 Groove Merchant / Ultra-Vibe / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-45955
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Keyboards

A sweet 70s groover from the great Lonnie Smith – a soulful little session that has the keyboardist really stretching out in some great ways! At the time, Smith fares a lot better than some of his late 60s jazz organ contemporaries – as he's got a great lean style, perfect for the decade's increasing use of electric keyboards and larger backings! This set's a great example of that style – as Smith moves way from his 60s soul jazz roots, into the soaring blend of jazz, funk, and soul that you'd also hear on Johnny Hammond albums of the time – almost more soul than jazz, given the presence of vocals on some cuts – but still always with more than enough room for the leader to stretch out and solo. Backings are nice and tight – and handled by Brad Baker (of B Baker Chocolate Company fame).

Masaru Imada is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University, after which he worked in business for a year. He then decided to pursue music professionally. From 1953 he was part of clarinetist Eiji Kitamura's band.

Chet Baker - Chet Baker Sings Again (1985) {Timeless Japan CDSOL-46702 rel 2020}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 262 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 107 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1985, 2020 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-46702
Jazz / Cool / Vocal Jazz / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. I have about 40 albums of Chet’s music (his last period principally) and this is one of his best. In this too short disc (45 minutes) recorded in Europe at the end of 1985, Chet is at his best, singing and playing trumpet beautifully for the Timeleless label. He is remarkably surrounded by the great French pianist Michel GRAILLER, Ricardo DEL FRA on the bass and John ENGELS on drums. Only eight songs are here on the programm, all great standards….

Gloria Coleman - Sings And Swings Organ (1971) {2017 Japan Mainstream Records Master Collection Series CDSOL-45209}
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© 1971, 2017 Time / Mainstream Records / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-45209
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Organ

Great work from Gloria Coleman – an overlooked genius on the organ, and part of an elite group of female keyboardists that includes Shirley Scott, Rhoda Scott, and Trudy Pitts! Coleman almost never got the chance to record, but clearly had a sharpness that was honed from years in the clubs – a tight, soulful approach to the instrument that also has her working the bass pedals as strongly as the keys – and an ability to sing at all the right times, in a soul-drenched mode that's even deeper than the vocalizations of Trudy Pitts on her late 60s albums for Prestige. The group's got James Anderson on tenor, Dick Griffin on trombone, Ray Copeland on flugelhorn, and Earl Dunbar on guitar – and titles include the funky "Bugaloo for Ernie", a great version of Kenny Dorham's "Blue Bossa", Blue Mitchell's "Fungi Mama".

Al Cohn - Rifftide (1987) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6312}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 375 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 129 Mb
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© 1987, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6312
Jazz / Bop / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Although this recording of standards was made late in his career, tenor saxophonist Al Cohn was in peak form and clearly inspired by an excellent Dutch rhythm section. Cohn's very broad tone is much in evidence, as he runs through changes on tunes that he played innumerable times in his career. A distinct stylist, Cohn was never an innovator, but his lush, relaxed, carefully honed sound was perfect for the late nightclub atmosphere. Every solo was deliberately constructed, mixing just the right amounts of emotion and technique. You can hear Coleman Hawkins in his playing, but Cohn incorporated broad influences from the early history of bop. Pianist Rein de Graff is stunning throughout, and drummer Eric Ineke and bassist Koos Serierse add solid support.

Gary Bartz - Shadows (1991) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 461 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 164 Mb
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© 1991, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6328
Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. The 90s were a really wonderful decade for reedman Gary Bartz – a time when he seemed to go back to basics, and find a way to open up whole new corners in his music! This album's a key illustration of that moment – as Bartz blows with a sense of darkly brooding power that we never would have expected a decade or two before – this deep sense of pacing and tone that often has us looking to make sure he's not blowing a tenor, instead of the alto and soprano sax listed in the notes.

Oliver Nelson - Black, Brown and Beautiful (1970) {Flying Dutchman Japan CDSOL-45715 rel 2017}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 255 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 90 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1970, 2017 Flying Dutchman / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-45715
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Arrangement

At last! Oliver Nelson's signature album from his Flying Dutchman period is on CD, only 47 years after it's initial release on vinyl and cassette in 1970. The album was previously available as a compressed digital download, and certain tracks were released a couple years back by Ace Records as part of the compilation Liberation Music: Spiritual Jazz And The Art Of Protest On Flying Dutchman Records 1969-1974.