What are you listening to? July 2020

[Ojai Sam]

Various Artists - Cabin In The Sky (soundtrack 1943, Rhino/TCM 1996)

It's far from free of pernicious stereotypes, but the first all Black musical to appear on the Hollywood big screen has many redeeming qualities. Any film with Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne and Ethel Waters has a lot to offer. Maybe the fact that it was released in the depths of WWII motivated M-G-M to break new ground in showcasing people of color.

 

[JazzyRandy]

L.T.D. - Love To The World (1976)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Millie Jackson - Caught Up (1975)

 

[JazzyRandy]

40 Watt Hype - Strong Feet On The Concrete (2006)

the band's frequent description as a cross between the Roots and Santana could work as a snippet of 40 Watt Hype's musical sophistication, songwriting skills, and strong live presence.
...
Strong Feet on the Concrete stomps forward with grooves rooted in hip-hop, R&B, funk, Latin vibes, and jazz.
...
The Latin vibes, as you might expect, are most evident in tunes with Spanish vocals, such as "Muevete" and "La Sombre". That vibe, punctuated by airtight horn arrangements, is delightful

 

[JazzyRandy]

Ivy - Apartment Life (1997)

Sophisticated lounge-pop for Europeans, only not, because what this actually is is a rockin' American power-pop record in Euro drag.

Listening to this album reminds me I need to replace the hole in my collection that is FoW.

 

[axolotl]

FoW

Force of Will?

Flames of War?

Fear of Woke?

 

[JazzyRandy]

Did somebody say "War?" Don't mind if I do.

War - All Day Music (1971)

Spoiler

French Origami Warriors
You won't believe them until you experience them.

 

[JazzyRandy]

David Murray - Home (1985)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Geezer - Groovy (2020)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Mudhoney - s/t (1989)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Alex Sipiagin - Destinations - Unknown (2011)

A nod to Destination Out! ?

 

[lpfreak1170]

Millie Jackson - Caught Up (1975)

Stone classic!!!!

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Goat - Live Ballroom Ritual (2013)

 

[JazzyRandy]

David Sanborn - Hideaway (1980)

That scene looks like it could have been taken from the back deck of the house (his house?) from pics of his 75th birthday yesterday.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Lee Morgan - Tom Cat (recorded 1964, released 1980)

This is Lee Morgan's best album - which is saying something as he made several desert island albums - and one of the real classics of hard bop jazz. Blue Note made a mistake not releasing this in 1964. The music is advanced but not avant garde,

This is great, but I'm not sure if many Lee fans would say it is his best album. Not to diminish this in the least. This is a fantastic lineup and they kill it!
Lee Morgan
Jackie McClean
Curtis Fuller
McCoy Tyner
Bob Cranshaw
Art Blakey

But seriously, how cool would it be if the album's closing track "Rigormortis" was the original version of the Cameo song "Rigor Mortis"? Too bad it's not.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Kenny Garrett - African-American Exchange Student (1990)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Sarah Vaughn - Sarah Vaughn (1955)

My copy give Clifford Brown almost co-headline billing, but the album cover here says it's a Sarah affair. And honestly, she is the undisputed star of this album. Brown plays a great supporting role, but he really is only a member of the band, not a headliner on this album.

 

[Nickyboy]

Various artists- The Trojan Rocksteady Box Set (1998)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Atomic Simao - Echo (2016)

 

[JazzyRandy]

The Spinners - Pick Of The Litter (1975)