1 Comment

Roland Haynes – 2nd Wave (1975) (2020 Black Jazz / Real Gone Music)

  April 10, 2021 ,

  It’s a total coincidence (or is it?) that my first two posts about the Black Jazz reissues have been by keyboardists, without any brass or reeds in their band. Weird, eh? This record, “2nd Wave” is great stuff by a one-and-done mysterious key tickler, Roland Haynes. There are actually two Fender Rhodes players here, so that should be welcomed by those of you for whom there is Never Enough Rhodes.  Not much is known about Roland Haynes, a situation … Continue reading

2 Comments

Juan Formell y Los Van Van – Vol. III (1974)

  March 25, 2021 ,

Juan Formell & Los Van Van Juan Formel & Los Van Van (Vol. III) Label: Egrem – CD 0128 Series: Coleccion Juan Formell Y Los Van Van – Vol. III Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Special Edition Cuba, 1995 Genre: Latin, Funk / Soul Style: Funk, Son, Salsa, Cubano Well, dear friends, I had planned to post something special for my birthday, which was two weeks ago, but being the notorious party animal that I am, time went out the window … Continue reading

2 Comments

Joe Cuba – Steppin’ Out (1963, Mono)

  February 28, 2021 ,

Joe Cuba – Steppin’ Out  Seeco SCLP 9248 Original release 1963 This pressing, late 60s / early 70s Style: Pachanga, Mambo, Guaguancó, Cha-Cha, Bolero, Salsa The back cover of this early Joe Cuba LP includes instructions on how to dance the ‘Wabble Cha’, a dance step I presumed they hoped would take the world by storm. There are two great vocalists on this record – Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater.  “To Be With You” would become Sabater’s trademark song.

6 Comments

Gene Russell – New Direction (1972) (Black Jazz BJ01 – RSD 2020)

  February 21, 2021 ,

Gene Russell New Direction Real Gone Music RGM1018 Released: 29 Aug 2020 Limited Edition, RSD exclusive, Clear with Black Swirl US  Original release on BLACK JAZZ RECORDS as BJ/1 in 1971 Well, it has been nearly two months since my last post here. I had planned to share this record at the beginning of the year, hoping that 2021 would symbolize a “new direction” for the world.  But those hopes got dashed just a few days in. I haven’t been … Continue reading

4 Comments

100 Proof Aged In Soul – 100 Proof (1972)

  December 29, 2020 ,

100 Proof Aged In Soul – 100 Proof 1972 Hot Wax HA 712 Vinyl transfer at 24-bit / 192 khz Classic soul here, on an album that has only been reissued on CD in Japan. Nice and warm northern soul arrangements and production values, pure pleasure from start to finish. The group was put together by the very busy Holland-Dozier-Holland team and featured veterans of R&B groups like The Falcons, The Contours, and The Originals.  The record was produced by … Continue reading