The NY hipster in Cologne for the day in 1967, with eight members of the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland big band, including Sahib Shihab and Ronnie Scott. Kicking off with Murphy unaccompanied in Duke’s Jump For Joy, the performances are masterful throughout, in wonderful repertoire, with a perfectly measured, enthralling introspectiveness.
Sconsolato in particular is ravishing, sublime Latin jazz, with casually brilliant drumming by Kenny Clarke and a gorgeous muted trumpet solo by Jimmy Deuchar, from Warrington. A desert island disc.
Very warmly recommended.

A no-frills, loving tribute — with Shirley’s longtime drummer Steve Williams and double bassist Curtis Lundy (brother of Carmen), formerly of Betty Carter’s group; also the fine pianist Alex Minasian and trumpeter Till Brönner.

Killer. Sublimely moody Latin jazz — our favourite recording by this great jazz singer — with expert accompaniment by Francy Boland, Kenny Clarke, Sahib Shihab, Ake Persson and co. On the flip, Just Give Me Time is a dynamic, full-flavoured bossa.

Two antenatal hours of rare and unreleased recordings — from Jimmy Jam extroversion to Andre Cymone’s bedroom demos — with Prince’s head showing from the off. A 144-page book, in fine Numero style.

A brilliant, tough, mid-70s funk work-out; and some nostalgia, with wistful falsetto and low-riding narration.
The UFB was formerly known as Bump And The Soul Stompers, led by Jerald ‘Bump’ Scott, from Kansas City.

Invoking The Delfonics’ Do You Remember, and flipping its melody the other way around. Recorded at the Damon Studios in Kansas City (owned by Victor Damon, inventor of the spring reverb).

Massive bounce to the ounce on the A-side, guaranteed to boing a dancefloor into a vibrational mess.
Four honed earhole sluicers, on the flip.

CD from Waxtime.

OG had been a UK-resident for five years by the time of this Brenton Wood cover, recorded here during the Soul Vendors 1967 tour. (One night Jimi Hendrix was the support.) A Procul Harem on the flip.

1976 recordings by the Texas Twister, never before released.

‘Producer Bob Porter brought the Texan guitarist to Prestige in 1970, where he recorded three albums as a leader and over a dozen as a session player, showing himself to be a wizard at playing funky licks and energised solos.
When Porter left Prestige to set up Eastbound Records in Detroit — as a branch of Westbound Records — Sparks followed on, and Texas Twister was his label debut, in 1973. The incredible rhythm section of Idris Muhammad, Sonny Phillips, Caesar Frazier and Wilbur Bascombe make this album a sure-fire funk bomb. On the front-line, a hard hitting horn section that includes Cecil Bridgewater and John Faddis is a perfect foil for Sparks.
‘With the monster acid jazz club cut Whip Whop and the frenetic Texas Twister, as well as a beautiful rendition of the Four Tops Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got).’