Review: Spiritual jazz fans are going to rather excited about this new one from the hard working people at P-Vine over in Japan: Chicago saxophonist Prince Billy Mahdi Wright's finest work, 'Summer Love', is now arriving on its own 7" for the first time ever. It is previously lost material that showcases his next level sound though here featuring mainly keyboard instruments as opposed to his more usual saxophone, but that only makes it all the more uplifting. On the flipside is a remix that is just as rare so this one really is an essential record for your collection.
Review: Smouldering Secrets was released in 1975 by Copeland Davis and his band and it's a great example of his energetic piano performances. The album opens with the melodic 'No Arms Can Ever Hold You' while tracks like 'Perfidy' and 'So in Love' feature lively instrumentals. Highlights include the soulful 'Jet,' where Davis sings, and the mellow 'Morning Spring,' famously sampled by Nujabes. This reissue also includes the vocal version of 'No Arms Can Ever Hold You' which makes its debut release on vinyl. Davis later gained popularity in Japan during the Free Soul and Rare Groove movements which is why this rich record one is being put out by P-Vine.
Review: Weldon Irvine was a pioneering musician whose innovative style and emotionally powerful melodies earned him admiration across generations and genres, from 1970s jazz and soul to 1990s club and rare groove scenes. Known for his versatility, Irvine left behind a legacy of timeless tracks and this best-of album, curated from his extensive catalogue, features eight standout songs that showcase his genius. The always-sensitive P-VINE presents this special collection in style and offers a comprehensive glimpse into the depth and breadth of Irvine's musical contributions, all of which highlight his lasting impact on the music world.
Review: Man With A Gun is the debut long player from Singaporean prog and funk group Funkgus. It has a famously enigmatic toxic blue jacket that lurks you in and musically it is no less intriguing. As well as a passionate cover of King Curtis's 'Memphis Soul Stew' there are plenty of supremely psychedelic sounds. The opener is steeped in funky bass riffs with rock-tinged drum breaks and plenty of raw vocals and from there the grooves come thick and fast, often with plenty of texture and charismatic vocals such as on 'Spill The Wine' and the leggy, expressive sounds of 'Everyday People' with its twisted wah wah guitars.
Review: Cal Green is a soul guitarist from Houston, Texas who isn't afraid to get as emotional as can be. Here is one of his standout cuts which was made with R&B organist Charles Kynard plus jazz heavyweights Tracy Wright and Billy Moore gets a long overdue repress. 'Tripping' and the reverse side opener 'Sieda' are Cal Green originals that come with hooky melodies that makes perfect jazz-funk listening. The infectious groover will carry you away in no time and this limited edition reuse, the first ever, is sure to fly out so do not sleep.
Review: Chicago-native Cecil Lyde's Home Boy And The C.O.L. album is often said to be his standout work. It dropped back in 1984 with his Home Boy group and was a swift follow up to 1982's self titled debut. Earlier works were defined by a lovely lo-fi aesthetic while this record goes big right for the off with an eight minute epic to kick off. 80s electro-funk then defines much of the rest of it with all sorts of big hits along the way. It makes for a luxurious listen with some self-reflective tunes like the ballad 'I Don't Want To Be A Movie Star,' and then some tension building and passionate vocal harmonies. This reissue comes a limited edition LP with obi-strip.
Review: 'Liberated Brother' might just refer to Weldon Irvine's liberation from the trappings of fame. While this debut album of this, originally released in 1972, was made around the same time as his come-up with Nina Simone as her bandleader, Irvine was not as impacted by publicity or subject to the same degree of pop culture notoriety. But just because a spark burns brightly, doesn't make it the most effervescent; this first LP charts the multi-instrumentalist's futuristic frolicks through funk-jazz, fusion and soul, all distilled into a romantic 8-tracker of trilling pianos ('Liberated Brother') and moody noir jams ('Gloria'). Hot off the plate with a reissue by Japanese label P-Vine, this is an exclusive obi-strip version not many will get their mitts on; it could still be you, though.
Review: In 1977, American jazz composer, pianist and organist Weldon Irvine helped create the musical Young, Gifted & Broke, which was in part inspired by Aretha Franklin's 1969 anthem 'Young, Gifted & Black' - a song whose lyrics were penned by none other than Weldon. Irvine was naturally responsible for the writing the soundtrack, which was recorded at the time but only released for the first time 12 years ago. It's an exceptional set all told, joining the dots between jazz, Blaxploitation funk, soul and gospel, with inspired instrumentals sitting side by side with songs that showcase the talents of both the lead characters and a talented chorus of backing singers.
Review: Weldon Irvine was one of the finest American jazz pianist and composers of his generation. He released several classic albums man of which are now being reissued thanks to P-Vine, but not before being fully remastered for the occasion. Weldon and The Kats was one that he put out on his own label Nodlew Records after releasing some albums through RCA and Strata-East. It is perfectly indicative of his style and has his early work 'Mr.P.C' on it, which was recorded in 1968 with Steve Grossman on tenor sax and sometime Miles Davies associate Lenny White on drums. This one has never been reissued before so snap it up before it goes again.
Review: A whole bunch of Weldon Irvine albums are being remastered and reissued at the moment, which will be music to the ears of spiritual jazz fans - literally. The American composer and pianists was one of the big names of his time and reals don labels like RCA and Strata-East as well as his own label. Young Gifted & Broke has never been on vinyl before as the recordings were only discovered in the early 2010s. It was a musical that was released in 1977 and inspired by the Black Civil Rights anthem 'Young, Gifted and Black,' which Weldon had written with Nina Simone. Talents like Marcus Miller joined the recordings which as can now be heard are magnificent to say the least.
Review: The legendary Kashmere High School Brass Band from Houston, Texas always deliver an incredible jazz-funk storm and in this rare groove masterpiece, they have rarely sounded better. Known as the world's best student band, their astonishing groove defies what you would think a bunch of high school musicians would be capable of. Originally released in 1974, this sixth album features original compositions by their teacher, Conrad Johnson, and includes all four titles from their catalogue, complete with a fine jacket design and exceptional sound quality. The tunes come thick and fast and include 'Kashmere' with its killer breakbeats, 'Head Wiggle' a fast-paced bass-driven funk, 'Do You Dig It Man?' big band funk at its best and 'Thunder Soul' which is percussive jazz funk brilliance.
Review: Kashmere Stage Band was formed in the 1960s and was made up of students from Kashmere High School and group leader Conrad O. Johnson. Bumper-To-Bumper Soul is their second album, and it was recorded between 1969 and 1970. The record, which like all their others was only pressed in small quantities and sold locally in Houston, Texas, so is hard to find but much in demand, is an extension of the high school group's debut album, but with a high percentage of groovy jazz funk, covering well-known songs in their now fast funk style.
Review: KSB stands for Kashmere Stage Band group that was initially founded by Conrad O. Johnson. He was at the heart of the group which is surely one of the most accomplished student outfits of all time. They hailed from the eponymous Kashmere High School in Houston, Texas, and were active in the 1960s on until the late 1970s. They related a number of albums which only get got pressed up a maximum of 1000 times so have become cult favs and hard to find treasures. P-VINE however changes all that with a series of limited reissues of their most renowned albums, including this one, Out Of Gas But Still Burning, as well as some others which have never actually been on wax before.
Review: High school band Kashmere Stage Band was formed in Texas by students from Kashmere High School's elite music division under the guidance of leader Conrad O. Johnson. They recorded plenty of albums but they only got sold locally and made in small numbers so now P-VIBE is embarking on a much-needed reissue run. Zero Point came in 1972, right in the middle of the band's activities which ran from the early 60s to the late 70s. It's a funky jazz fusion workout with great echoed vocals and fuzz-tone guitar.
Review: The 1978 self-titled album by the free soul band Lemuria remains much talked about around rare groove circles. Formed by Kirk Thompson of the iconic Kalapana, it's a proud statement of Hawaiian AOR, and highlights the magic touch of Thompson as both a keyboardist, and behind the mixers, his work as the album's serving producer. For this new reissue edition, P-VINE is including three bonus tracks and two alternate takes for the first time on vinyl, resulting in this deluxe fourteen track double gatefold package.
Review: The highly anticipated reissue of the rare groove gem Transfusion by West Coast funky drummer extraordinaire Les Demar is finally here thanks to P-Vibe and comes with an obi! Originally released in 1977 on the esteemed Dobre label, this album stands as one of Demar's most significant works from the 1970s. It boasts iconic tracks like 'Moondial,' featuring a legendary drum break sampled by artists such as Jurassic 5, De La Soul, DJ Shadow, and Greyboy. Additionally, the album showcases a plethora of groovy numbers like 'Canned Heat Suite' and 'Kaballa,' alongside the mesmerizing Afro-Latin funk of 'Bacchanal,' epitomizing Demar's fusion of funky rhythms and jazz sensibilities.
Review: Trombonist Ira Nepps - a member of Hawaiian AIR classic Lemur who also recorded with the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, Leon Russell and BB King - released only one album and that was this one in 1979. Trombone Feeling is a seamless and soulful fusion of jazz and mellow styles with Brazilian sunshine flavours that brings to mind the work of the great Roy Ayers. It features such gems as the lush title track with its sublime female choses and the more low key and soothing sounds of 'Trickey Mickey' as well as plenty more. It has become a cult and hard-to-find album having only been pressed up 500 times back in the day, and it was popularised on the radio on the US mainland.
Nothing Better Than You (feat Anna Fondi & Erika Scherlin)
You Came Along (feat Stevie Biondi)
Touch The Sky (feat Sweet Candies)
Never Give Up (feat Laura Lanzillo)
Summer Madness (feat Anna Fondi)
Review: Prolfic producer Neiro 'Papik' Poggi founded the Soultrend Orchestra almost 15 years ago as a vehicle for his acid jazz, funk, soul, disco and jazz-funk fantasies. The project has been 'on ice' for a while, with Now Imagine, officially the band's second studio set, appearing a decade after its predecessor. It's a typically musically rich affair with a string of guest vocalists joining the expansive 'orchestra' to run through happy, sun-splashed tracks. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from a lightly Latin-tinged cover of Sister Sledge disco classic 'Lost In Music' and the Jamiroquai-esque warmth and soul of 'Wiser' (featuring Wendy D Lewis), to the vibraphone-wielding smooth grooves of 'Touched By Your Love' and the glossy jazz-funk-goes-house rainbows of 'You Came Along' (featuring Steve Biondi).
Review: Southside Movement was a Chicago funk band that was busy during the mid 70s releasing a total of three albums between 1973 and 1975 on Wand and 20th Century Records. They also collaborated with the lush tones of soul singer and fellow Chicagoan Jackie Ross on records for Chess and Brunswick that have long since been forgotten. Until now, that is, because P-VINE has put together this great reissue of the music that was only released in limited test presses back in the day, and has added to it some previously unreleased tracks. The standout here is 'You Are The One That I Need' with its tropical funky vibes.
Keep Your Head Up (feat Ryuto Kasahara & Mabanua) (3:12)
Thank U 4 The Heartbreak (3:48)
Music The Magic (feat Emi Tawata) (3:03)
Nobody/Private Party (feat Kzyboost & Shingo Sekiguchi) (3:11)
Life Goes On (feat Chan-Mika) (3:29)
Fuwa Fuwa (3:29)
Mellow 90's (feat Ryuto Kasahara) (3:44)
Sozo (Grooveman Spot remix) (4:32)
Appletree (feat Erykah Badu) (3:47)
Childhood Paradise (Uyama Hiroto remix) (5:46)
Keep Your Head Up (feat Ryuto Kasahara & Youth Of Roots - Island mix) (3:04)
Review: Hanah Spring is a leading Japanese soul diva who has become a real star over the last decade. This is her latest self produced album and it comes five years after her last. This one bottles up plenty of new r&b flavours and 90s vibes, which are the sound of her roots, as well as some fine and sophisticated production from mabanua, Shingo Sekiguchi, DJ HAZIME, Shun Ishiwaka, Uyama Hiroto and grooveman Spot amongst others. Guest musicians also feature on this contemporary neo-soul delight as does a cover of Erykah Badu's timeless 'Appletree.'
Review: Three years after Ticket to Shangri-La, Young Gun Silver Fox return with a polished showcase of contemporary AOR and blue-eyed soul that could be a long-lost gem, but it isn't, it's all new. The duo of Andy Platts of Mama's Gun and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee really deliver here with achingly lush melodies, breezy harmonies and effortlessly smooth vocals that embody their signature mellow sound and tap into all the classics of this genre. From start to finish, Pleasure is steeped in warmth and nostalgia yet feels refreshingly modern and it's a must-have if you like soulful, feel-good pop and yacht rock. With a major European tour ahead, this duo continue to prove they're at the heart of today's AOR revival.
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