Afro Jack

What does integrity do in the face of adversity / oppression? What does honesty do in the face of lies / deception? What does decency do in the face of insult? How does virtue meet brute force? These four questions posed by the great African American civil rights activist and author W. E. B. Du Bois in his 1903 book The Souls of Black Folk are expounded upon in a speech given by Dr. Cornel West based on his book, Black Prophetic Fire, given October 9, 2014 at Town Hall in Seattle.

Unlike most of Costanzo's other records, Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha is real Cuban music. The vocalists, featured on all twelve tracks, either solo or in tandem, are the true stars. Costanzo's bongos figure high in the mix, of course, but not to the point of severe distraction or camp. Kaskara had performed with Perez Prado and Rene Touzet before joining Costanzo, so there is no question about his credentials. This one cooks. Except for two cheesy-but-delightful, syncopated cha cha chas sung in English ("Jack, Jack, Jack" being a tribute to the master), it sounds more like salsa than cha cha cha. There is a serious, uptempo, monster session beneath the jacket of what looks like just a budget-label trifle.

Massimo Faraò (piano), Nicola Barbon (bass), Roberto "Bobo" Facchinetti (drums) and Ernesttico (percussions), featuring Davide Palladin on jazz guitar. Recorded at Riverside Studio in Torino on December 16th, 2019.
Massimo Faraò is a wonderful Italian pianist who has played and recorded with Red Holloway, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Tony Scott, Franco Ambrosetti, Nat Adderley, Jeff Tain Watts, Jack DeJohnette and Chris Potter, among others. Farao's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates.

Time is Now is like a delightful summer breeze, a refreshing album that recreates with absolute freedom some of the most excel and refined Latin American and classic repertoire. Mario Bauzá made it possible with that characteristic sound, filled of Latin flavour and vigorous radiance that will captivate you from the first track. You won't believe the mesmerizing adaptation of "Mack the Knife", for instance. Don't let this album pass in front of you. Go for it and enjoy it forever.

Afro-Soultet - Afrodesia (1969) {Luv N' Haight LHCD063 rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 267 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 91 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 9 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1969, 2011 Banyan / Ubiquity Recordings / Luv N' Haight | LHCD063
Jazz / Afrobeat / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz

Afrodesia is the lone album by the Afro-Soultet, which may or may not have been officially released by Banyon sometime between 1968 and 1971 (no one still breathing can remember the exact date). What we do know is that Johnny Kitchen (aka Jack Millman) licensed the record to Banyon's Betty Chiappetta (Vee-Jay Records), and the record received a test pressing. The Afro-Soultet originally hailed from Texas and recorded several albums under the name Afro-Blues Quintet +1, who had previously recorded three albums and seven 45s.

Blending a socially conscious spirit with hard bop, jazz-funk, and electronic elements, Power to the People finds Joe Henderson saxophonist entering a new creative dimension, as he performs such originals as “Isotope,” “Afro-Centric” and the first recording of his classic “Black Narcissus,” alongside such legends as Herbie Hancock (piano, Fender Rhodes), Ron Carter (electric and acoustic bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), and Mike Lawrence (trumpet). Available on 192/24 hi res digital.

Back in the '80s, Paul Murphy developed a cult following as the U.K. DJ who fueled the parties at the WAG Club's Jazz Room. By drawing heavily on the soul-jazz and hard bop records of the '50s and '60s, he developed something of an underground dance craze, one that ran parallel to Northern soul and one that got big enough to attract patrons as prominent as Jerry Dammers of the Specials. A record called The Jazz Club presented highlights from these swinging parties and Murphy continued to DJ outside of the WAG Club, but the trend faded away by the early '90s and, along with it, so did Murphy. Many years later, producer Dean Rudland eventually reconnected with Murphy via Facebook, a rekindling that led to this Ace compilation from 2014. The Return of Jazz Club: Dancefloor Classics from the Original Jazz Dance DJ is a 15-track collection culled from the Prestige and Riverside vaults…