Strata 2016

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Buhaina (1973) {2014 Japan Prestige Masters Collection 1000 Series UCCO-90295}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 281 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 217 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1973, 2014 Prestige / Concord / Universal Music Japan | UCCO-90295
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modal Music / Groove / Soul Jazz

An amazing album that has Art Blakey completely reinventing himself for the 70s! Blakey shifts from straight hardbop to kind of a modal soul jazz groove, touched with some of the electric playing of the younger jazz generation, but not enough to qualify as fusion or funk. Instead, he's working with some great younger players – like Carter Jefferson, Woody Shaw, and Michael Howell – hitting a groove that reminds us of some of the best underground soul jazz on labels like Muse or Strata East. Includes the amazing long groovers "Mission Eternal" and "Chant For Bu", a famous Tribe Called Quest sample – plus new electric piano versions of "Moanin" and "Along Came Betty", both of which feature vocals by Jon Hendricks.

Rodney Jones - Articulation (1978) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 289 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 104 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 262 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6373
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion / Guitar

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. An overlooked spiritual jazz gem from the 70s – recorded for the Dutch Timeless label, but done in a mode that sparkles with the energy of Strata East at the time! Guitarist Rodney Jones is in some wonderfully hip company for the set – a lineup that includes Kenny Kirkland on piano, Wallace Roney on trumpet, Bob Mintzer on tenor, and Arthur Blythe on alto – all blowing together beautifully with a freely-soaring spiritual energy that reminds us a lot of some of Gary Bartz' more jazz-based albums of the time.