Funk Soul Classic

Strut present the first ever compilation bringing together classics and rarities from the seminal spiritual jazz and conscious soul label Black Fire, spanning 1975 to 1993.

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this classic in demand 1977 Jazz Funk album from multi Grammy nominated Patrice Rushen. This album pre-dates her big commercial successes like 'Forget Me Nots' and shows her more as an incredible keyboard player in a similar style to Herbie Hancock's work of the time. On this album, Patrice introduced her vocals on the track 'Let Your Heart Be Free' which crossed over to a Soul audience. On 'Shout It Out', she is joined by some great musicians including James Gadson, Al McKay and Bill Summers, but the real highlight is Patrice's keyboard playing which is outstanding throughout. The album deserves its place amongst the best Jazz Funk albums of all time.

The strength of the original Mastercuts collections lay in the fact that they very often managed to appear to feature records which had not been previously released or made widely available, and they were often compiled by individuals with a real understanding and appreciation of a particular genre. For 'Classic Rare Groove' the compiler was Dez Parkes, responsible for the earlier 'Rare' compilations which really sought to introduce 'Rare Groove' to a wider audience - and Dez Parkes is a man with a credible and proven love and interest in the music he plays. He also happens to be a very good DJ with an exceptionally large record collection (over 50,000 titles apparently) which reflects his continuing involvement with music.

Various Artists - Blaxploitation. Soul Jazz & Funk From The Inner City (1996) [2CD] {Global}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 983 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 354 Mb
Full Artwork @ 400 dpi (jpg) -> 72 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1996 Global Television / BMG | RADCD45
Jazz / Funk / Soul / Fusion

This title of this generous two-CD anthology is a bit of a misnomer: While it includes several blaxploitation film themes, it is much more than just a strict genre compilation. Although there are the expected soundtrack picks like "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes and "Superfly" by Curtis Mayfield, this album also includes plenty of non-soundtrack items to create a convincing urban atmosphere. The producers wisely layer in some interesting obscurities along with the obvious choices, and this helps to keep things fresh and interesting.

There was a strong jazz vibe running through some of Philip Bailey's sides with Earth, Wind & Fire. On Soul on Jazz, his second release for Heads Up International, co-producer Bailey remakes several jazz standards, some with new lyrics by his son, Sir Bailey. The foray is most successful on Thelonious Monk's "Ruby My Dear," a percussive take on Gene McDaniels' "Compared to What," and Joe Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." R&B and jazz stylishly intersect on the smooth airy ballad "Unrestrained." Bailey redoes the EWF classic "Keep Your Head to the Sky," giving it a mellow sheen that's close to one of his past cuts, "Children of the Ghetto." On that and his dusky cover of Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" and the loopy "Bop-Skip-Doodle," Bailey flexes his legendary falsetto. More jazz-oriented than Dreams, Soul on Jazz benefits from the sharing of production chores with Myron McKinley, Bob Belden, and Scott Kinsey. The album is definitely on track.

Legendary James Brown's protégée Martha High teams up with Osaka Monaural to pay homage to “JB’s Funky Divas” in her new album “Tribute to My Soul Sisters”.

All the classics are here, Booker T, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Eddie Floyd, you know the score. All the tracks you associate with the label too. 60 tracks in total over three discs.