Soul Jazz




The jazz world never had much use for the obvious, and the blues-derived, "funky" underpinnings of soul jazz epitomize commercialism. Soul jazz grew out of boogaloo (mod soul); both styles fed the need for "hit" singles. A smash such as "Alligator Boogaloo" would have been heard on the jukeboxes of most New Jersey jazz joints. Soul jazz could be either original or covers of then-contemporary soul and funk hits.

The links between funk and jazz have yet to be explored fully. James Brown's bands veered into jazz territory during many of their longer tunes. Even Kool and the Gang had their jazzy moments. Before jazz went "out" (free jazz) or "fused" with rock, it embraced funk. Jimmy McGriff, Grant Green, Monk Higgins, and Blue Mitchell are jazz musicians known to any funk fan. Tasteful and interesting enough for heavy rotation, soul jazz keeps funk DJs interested.

Buying: Blue Note & Prestige LPs from the soul-jazz era remain great values.



Soul-Jazz (General/Miscellaneous) LPs

Rating
7Brother Ahh: Sound of Awareness; Strata-East 19731 (Robert Northern w/Max Roach; out/electronic)
8Brother Ahh & the Sounds of Awareness: Move Ever Onward; Divine 52134A; 1975 (Robert Northern; out/spoken w/sitar)
7Brother Ahh & the Sounds of Awareness: Key to Nowhere; Major/Divine 52134B; 1983 (Robert Northern; exotic soul jazz)
8The Johnny Almond Music Machine [Patent Pending]; London/Deram DES-18030; 1969 (soul jazz-horns)
7Johnny Almond Music Machine: Hollywood Blues; London/Deram DES-18037; 1970 (soul jazz; w/Charles Kynard, Curis Amy, Leonard Feather..)
8Mulatu Astatke & his Ethiopian Quintet: Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 1; Worthy NOW-1014; 1966 (Latin jazz)
8Mulatu Astatke & his Ethiopian Quintet: Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 2; Worthy NOW-1015; 1966 (Latin jazz)
9Mulatu of Ethiopia; Worthy W-1020; 1972 (soul jazz)
8Mulatu Astatke, featuring Fekade Amde Maskal: Ethiopian Jazz; Amha AELP-90; 1974 (soul jazz; L'Arome LAP005LP; 2002; includes "Yekermo Sew" & "Dewel" from Worthy W-1020)
8Mulatu Astatke 10"; Sound Way SNDW-10001; 2005 (soul jazz; 4 tunes)
6Barbara Ann Auer's Dance Exercise; Gateway GSLP-7608; 1980 (jazz --Ramsey Lewis uncredited!-- w/spoken instruction; gatefold w/illustrated innerleaves; jacket: Complete Exercise Program--Complete Volume One)
8David Axelrod/Earl Palmer: The Auction; MCA/Decca DL-75355; 1972; (w/Cannonball Adderley, David T. Walker, King Errison..)
7David Axelrod: Marchin'; MCA MCA-3199; 1980/1979
7The Blackbyrds; Fantasy F-9444; 1974
7The Blackbyrds: City Life; Fantasy F-9490; 1975
8The Blackbyrds: Night Grooves; Fantasy F-9570; 1978 (compilation)
8Willie Bobo & the Bo-Gents: Do What You Want to Do; Sussex SXBS-7003
8Willie Bobo & the Bo-Gents: Willie Bobo Lost & Found; Concord CCD-3086-1 (2-LP; outtakes & alternates from the Sussex session)
8Philip Cohran & the Artistic Heritage Ensemble: The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music); Mississippi Records MR-016 (spiritual soul jazz/mid-east jazz)
7Compost: Take Off Your Body; CBS/Columbia C-31176; 1972 (Jack DeJohnette, Bob Moses, Harold Vick..)
7Bill Cosby Presents Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Bradford Funeral & Marching Band; MCA/Uni 73080 (w/Bill Black; Miles Davis-ish instrumental tribute to MLK)
7Clifford Coulter: East Side San Jose; ABC/Impulse AS-9197; 1970
8Clifford Coulter: Do it Now, Worry About it Later; ABC/Impulse AS-9216; 1971
7Jack Daugherty & the Class of Nineteen Seventy One; A&M SP-3038; 1971 (soul jazz/funky rock; much like a jazz lab; w/Paul Humphrey, Hal Blaine, Clydie King, Larry Carlton, Joe Pass..)
7John Devlin's Total Exercise System: Dancercise Club--Total Class One; Gateway GSLP-7601; 1973 (hip soul jazz w/spoken instruction; gatefold w/illustrated innerleaves)
7Ensemble Al-Salaam: The Sojourner; Strata-East SES-7418; 1974 (more free/out/spiritual than groove)
7Leonard Feather: The Night Blooming Jazzmen; Mainstream/Red Lion MRL-348 (w/Blue Mitchell, Ernie Watts)
Johnny Frigo -- see bass
7Carlos Garnett: Black Love; Muse 5040; 1974; ("Mother of the Future" features Carlos Chambers imitating Leon Thomas's yodel; other singers: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ayodele Jenkins)
8Carlos Garnett: Let this Melody Ring On; Muse 5079; 1975 (partly vocal)
7Gus Giordano: Jazz Hand--modern jazz dance routines; Orion LP-143 (percussion; funky rock; soul jazz)
5Steve Hall/Tim Wallace/Doran Damitz: Green Sounds--Music for Your Plants; Halco RS-1000; 1974 (mellow, organ-led)
9The Bobby Hamilton Quintet Unlimited: Dream Queen Alifa ALP-372; 1972
7Doug Hammond/David Durrah et al: Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen; Tribe TRCD-4009; 1975 (soul jazz/space funk/funky Moog)
7Wendell Harrison: An Evening with the Devil; Tribe PRSD-2212; 1972 (soul jazz/spiritual soul jazz/black power/proto-rap)
The Jazz Crusaders: Freedom Sound; Pacific Jazz ST-27
The Jazz Crusaders: Lookin' Ahead; Pacific Jazz ST-43
The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse; Pacific Jazz ST-57
The Jazz Crusaders: Tough Talk; Pacific Jazz ST-68
The Jazz Crusaders: Heat Wave; Pacific Jazz ST-76
The Jazz Crusaders: Jazz Waltz; Pacific Jazz ST-81
The Jazz Crusaders: Stretchin' Out; Pacific Jazz ST-83
The Jazz Crusaders: The Thing; Pacific Jazz ST-87
7The Jazz Crusaders: Chile Con Soul; Pacific Jazz ST-20092; 1966 (Latin jazz; w/Clare Fischer, Hubert Laws, Carlos Vidal...)
The Jazz Crusaders: Live at the Lighthouse '66; Pacific Jazz ST-20098; 1966
The Jazz Crusaders: Talk That Talk; Pacific Jazz ST-20106
The Jazz Crusaders: The Festival Album; Pacific Jazz ST-20115
The Jazz Crusaders: Uh Huh; Pacific Jazz ST-20124
7The Jazz Crusaders: Lighthouse '68; Pacific Jazz ST-20131; 1968
7The Jazz Crusaders: Powerhouse; Pacific Jazz ST-20136; 1968
The Jazz Crusaders: Lighthouse '69; Pacific Jazz ST-20165; 1969
8The Jazz Crusaders: The Best of; Pacific Jazz ST-20175
6Ole Jensen & his Music; Chappell LPC-1028; 1969 (production/soul jazz/vibes/Mexicali)
7Quincy Jones: Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice ST; Columbia/Bell 1200; 1969 (wife-swappin' jazz with 2 funky instrumentals)
7Quincy Jones: The Lost Man ST; MCA/Uni 73060; 1969
8Lightfire: Pop Drops; Maritim 47-567-NT; 1974 (funky rock/funk/mod funk/soul-jazz flute/space funk/soul jazz "Annette"/soul-jazz piano; Germany)
8The Lightmen Plus One: Energy Control Center; Lightin' LP-2001; 1971 (bizarre, Texas, partly out/Moog)
8Haki R. Madhubuti/NATION: Medasi/Thank You; Rise RR-770; 1984/1983 (Don L. Lee/Afrikan Liberation Arts Art Ensemble)
6Henry Mancini: Symphonic Soul; RCA APL1-1025; 1975 (strings but good, considering)
8Owen Marshall as Captain Puff in the Naked Truth; Aditi 1975 (Marshall also appears on Gary Saracho's Latin-jazz LP)
8Judy Sheppard Missett: Jazzercise; Orion LP-130 (Frank Acri leads group for ex-Gus Giordano dancer; coaching vocals by Debbie Page)
8Dawan Muhammad: Deep Stream; Evidence Artistic 1004; 1979/1976-78 (spiritual soul jazz)
8Oneness of Juju: Space Jungle Luv; Strut LP-028; 2002/1975-77 (funk/spiritual soul jazz; 2-disc UK reissue w/bonus cuts)
7Pop Workshop Vol. 1; Grammofonverket EFG-7350; 1973 (Sweden; soul jazz/funky rock)
8Pop Workshop: Song of the Pterodactyl; Grammofonverket EFG-501; 1974 (Sweden; soul jazz/funky rock)
7Phil Ranelin: Message from the Tribe; Tribe TRCD-4002; 1974/1973 (soul jazz/spiritual soul jazz)
8Phil Ranelin: Vibes from the Tribe; Tribe TRCD-4008; 1976/1975 (soul-jazz horns/spiritual soul jazz/Indo-jazz;; Hefty; 2001)
7Selah/Edith Hill/The Children: Symposium; The Peppered Snowfall PS-1; 1972
8Shades of Joy; Mercury/Fontana SRF-67592; 1969 (Martin Fierro, Millie Foster-vocalist, Jackie King, Edward Adams, Jymm Young, Jose Rodriguez)
8Shades of Joy: Music of El Topo; Douglas 6; 1970 (Martin Fierro, Hadley Caliman, Luis Gasca, Howard Wales..)
8Kenny Smith Quartet/Mauricio Smith Quintet/Mike Abeni Trio: Drum Star; Music Minus One MMO-4074; 1972/1971 (deluxe box w/book; features Dee Dee Bridgewater)
8Kenny Smith Quartet/Mauricio Smith Quintet/Mike Abeni Trio: Drumpadstickskin; Music Minus One MMO-4075; 1972/1971 (deluxe box w/book; features Dee Dee Bridgewater)
7Warren Smith & the Composers Workshop Ensemble: Cricket Song--Poem; Miff Music Company KRS-1006; 1982 (out/spiritual soul jazz)
7Sons and Daughters of Lite: Let the Sun Shine In (Ubiquity/Luv n' Haight LHLP-034; 1999; spiritual soul jazz)
7The Soulful Strings: Groovin' with the Soulful Strings; Cadet LPS-796; 1967
6The Soulful Strings: Another Exposure; Chess/Cadet LPS-805; 1968
8The Soulful Strings: The Magic of Christmas; Cadet LPS-814; 1968
6The Soulful Strings in Concert; Chess/Cadet LPS-820 (live)
7The Soulful Strings: String Fever; Chess/Cadet LPS-834; 1969
7Syrius: Broken Dreams; Pepita SLPX-17491; 1976 (Hungary)
8Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers: Doin' What We Wanna; Atlantic SD-1551; 1970 (soul jazz/funk)
8Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers: The Love I've Been Looking For; Atlantic SD-1585; 1971 (soul jazz/funk)
6Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers: New Chicago Blues; Atlantic SD-1636; 1972 (soul jazz/funk)


Soul-Jazz Compilation LPs

6The Best of Black Jazz Records 1971-1976; Universal Sound US-LP2; 1996 (2-LP; inferior sound)
7The Best of Luv N' Haight Volume One; Ubiquity/Luv N' Haight LHLP-011; 1993/?-'77 (soul jazz/funk/Moog/flute/guitar)
8Between or Beyond the Black Forest; Crippled Dick CDHW-056; 1999 (2-LP; MPS/Saba recordings)
7Between or Beyond the Black Forest 2; Crippled Dick CDHW-064; 2000 (2-LP; MPS/Saba recordings)
7Blue Break Beats; Capitol/Blue Note (multi-volume, from various Capitol-owned labels)
8Blue Note Rare Grooves; Capitol/Blue Note B1-7243-8-35636-1-6; 1996/1967-71 (2-LP compilation)
7Dimensions in Sound Vol. 1; Trip TRIP-6201 (compilation, UK)
7Dusty Fingers Vol. 4; Strictly Break Records DF-004; 2003/1966-78 (compilation)
7Funky Good Time (The Freedom Jazz Dance Series); Pho LP-8001; 1995/1972-80 (Muse recordings)
8Heading in the Right Direction--Soul Jazz from Australia 1973-1977; Ubiquity URLP-023; 1995 (soul jazz/Australia/mod funk/space funk; partly live)
7The Lost Grooves; Blue Note B1-7243-8-31883-1-4; 1995/1967-70 (2-LP; alternates/outtakes/rarities; Reuben Wilson, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Stanley Turrentine, Lonnie Smith)
7Music for Dancefloors--The Cream of the KPM Green-Label Sessions; Strut LP-005; 2000 (2-LP)
8Setting the Scene--From the Vaults of KPM; Groove Attack GAP-029-DLP; 1997 (2-LP; production)
7Texas Twister; SR003
9Trippin'--The Groove Merchant Compilation; Ubiquity/Luv N' Haight LHLP-027; 1996 (funk/soul jazz)
7A World of Jazz; Liberty/Blue Note B2S-5256; (2-LP compilation)


Partly Soul-Jazz LPs

Rating
8The Gaturs: Wasted; Funky Delicacies DEL-LP-0001; 1984/['70s] (New Orleans funk/soul jazz/psyche funk/disco funk)
8James William Guercio: ElectraGlide in Blue ST; United Artists UA-LA062-H; 1973 (funk/soul jazz/breakbeats; dialogue between cuts; with the Marcels; Paul Beaver on Moog; deluxe, includes 3 poster inserts)
8Del Jones; Positive Vibes; Hikeka HR-3331 (DM-68474; funk)
7Clifford Jordan: Soul Fountain; Atlantic/Atco/Vortex 2010; 1970 (mod soul)
8Richard Koehneke: For Adults Only; Mosann Enterprises/Fortress BM-768; 1968 (Christian/spoken with music/soul jazz/sex-ed/drugs/kids/harp/bossa; w/Joe Newman, Chuck Rainey, Eric Gale, Corky Hale..)
8The Mark Lewis Trio ["Works Hard and Plays Well"]; C&M LPS-1001 (lounge act/breakbeats/funk/funky rock/soul jazz; note: jacket number may be incorrect--it's NOT LPS-1000)
8Johnny Scott/Westway Studio Orchestra: Jazz-Beat-Bossa Nova; Southern SLLP-25 (soul jazz: vibes, bass, organ, guitar, mod)
7Superstrings Plus: Cult & Colour; De Wolfe DWLP-3215; 1971 (production; soul jazz/soul-jazz flute/Mexicali; mainly Lee Mason)
8Andrew White: Who Got de Funk?; Andrew's Music No. 4; 1973 (w/Montego Joe; out)


Soul-Jazz 45s

Rating
7C.C. Review: I Feel Like Making Love/Elijah; C.C. Review CC-1 ("Cabaret Corp."--soul-jazz vocal/lounge act)
7C.C. Review: Compared to What/Fly High; C.C. Review CC-2 ("Cabaret Corp."--soul jazz/lounge act)
8Edwin Daugherty: Your Love is Showing/Groovy Monday; Savern SN-105 (flute/conga)
7Cash McCall: When You Wake Up/You Ain't Too Cool; Thomas 307 (prod. Monk Higgins)
8Various: Trunk Presents the Super Sounds of Bosworth Vol. 2; Trunk Barked 2; 1996 (production; reissue-compilation)


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