For every vinyl junkie, there is a huge amount of obscure Jazz records out there. It's often the more rare pieces that have some of the most fascinating and inspiring music ever recorded in Jazz ... music that is hardly known to the mainstream.

I just went through the records in my Jazz shelf the other day and picked out my favorite albums for my radio show on Sunday, and since the covers are so beautiful, I thought I post some of them here, hoping to discuss some of the music with the Jazz cats on this forum.

Michael White – The land of Spirit and Light
This is my favorite album of this incredible Jazz violinist. He has a few more records that are more on the funky edge, but this release is superb.




Oliver Nelson – Skull Session
Don't be fooled by the cover. This record is a big-band album in typical Nelson tradition. But the title track is what makes it most interesting – and incredibly spooky fusion piece. The record came out on Flying Dutchman, and it features many artists from their stable.



Skull Session:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...41ENdpfmIM


Archie Whitewater – Archie Whitewater
I think I've posted the cover of this unbelievable album before. Actually, this group is more of a Funk Rock act, but it has a few jazzy tracks, like the beautiful Cross Country, which is going to send a chill down your spine. Try to pick this one up, but be patient, it's highly in demand at the moment.



Here the track Cross Country:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...Z-db8uxDQI


Louis Armstrong – Louis Armstrong and his Friends
I'm pretty sure that this is the last album Satchmo ever recorded. He may have known it, which is why he invited many of his old friends into the studio. Miles Davis was present at these sessions, although he didn't play on the album. This is probably the most unusual release by Armstrong. He does an incredible version of The Creator has a Masterplan, with Leon Thomas sharing the mic. And he does a very funky cover of John Lennon's Give piece a Chance, believe it or not.



Give Peace a Chance:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...Hz_ajc6bis


Harold Alexander – Sunshine Superman
If you dig Rhodes Piano, heavy drums and funky bass lines and flute then this is an album for you. Harold's technique is to sing along while he plays the flute. Some find that annoying, I find it extremely funny. Killer album.



Mama Soul, my favorite track of the album:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...rpMlmsKqqI


Composers Workshop Ensemble - Composers Workshop Ensemble
Let's face it, anything released on Stata East Records is a must-pick-up. This album is rather straight-ahead Hard-Bop, but got the most incredible Tuba playing I've ever heard. Sick.




Frank Foster – The Loud Minority
The title song was sampled by the Japanese Acid Jazz group U.F.O for their song “Loud Minority” back in the early 1990s, which hipped me to the original record, which I picked up a couple of years later. It's a very funky record, featuring no less than 30 musicians under the direction of saxman Frank Foster.




Frank Strazzeri – After the rain
Probably my favorite Fusion album ever. Frank Strazzeri is one of the less known keyboard players, but his style on the Rhodes couldn't be more soulful. Cloudburst is the classic tune on the album, it's so damn Funky it makes any woman cream in her pants immediately and every man shoot some jizz in the undies.




Gene Harris – Astral Signal
Fantastic Fusion album. Gene Harris used to be leader of the Jazz piano trio The Three Sounds, but in the earlu 70s, he started recording as a solo artist. This Blue Note release is his rarest – and his best. One of the highlights is the Sly cover tune Don't call me Nigger, Whitey.




Leon Thomas – Spirits known and Unknown
I've always been a big Leon Thomas fan, and though my favorite album of his is Live in Berlin, I decided to feature this one today, because it has the studio version of Pharaoh Sanders The Creator has a Masterplan.



The Creator has a Masterplan:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...ZK80Mesqq0


Ramsey Lewis – Sun Goddess
Not really a rare pick, but a killer album anyway. Ramsey never released a funkier record.



Sun Goddess:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...bTcSaT5oYs


What are your favorite obscure Jazz albums?
[Edited 11/14/08 11:59am]

oooh some very nice tips on there. i'm gonna hunt down some of these
records you're suggesting.

IstenSzek said:

It's some unbelievable music. Many of those records pop up on Ebay once in a while. But you need to be lucky to find them in record stores.

I'm going to dig into some of this passion. Much appreciated!

Jazz is such a big catagory that in another liftetime I could see myself collecting nothing but and still never hitting the bottom.

===
[Edited 11/14/08 13:26pm]

Brendan said:

Thanks .. yes, it's worth digging into it.

Those are some great selections. I have a couple of those, others I had not heard of.

...

Nice picks , sir! I only have the Michael White and Frank Foster..oh and Ramsey of course...

I dig Leon Thomas's vocals too! I'll have to track that one down....







...

paligap said:

Thx! Radio show is on this Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Easter Time. You can listen online at www.wrir.org

check

Thanks for Sharing these Mr Soulpower. I really love that Archie Whitewater track.

I like "Cloudburst" too

MrSoulpower said:

True! The last Strata East vinyl I picked up was Stanley Cowell - Musa

http://www.discogs.com/release/1023619

ahem
[Edited 11/15/08 14:55pm]

MrSoulpower said:

Love "Tambura"



Catch me going "whem-whom-whem-whem" to the beginning

I swear you guys are gonna bankrupt me.

Good stuff...I have the Ramsey Lewis joint.

I think I'll have to say no thanks to the flute guy though.

Why did I leave my record player back in Atlanta??

babynoz said:

No Soul, Mama?


Ok, another act of shameless self promotion: my radio show is on today from 1 - 3 p.m. EST. Listen to the live stream on www.wrir.org We'll also post the playlist on the website.

MrSoulpower said:

Sorry, he irks the hell outta me.

Thanks for the link...gonna check it out.

I dug 'Mama Soul', very cool

Another cool cut from the same album,

Tite Rope

Not sure about the vinyl status but Spiritual/Obscure/Jazz/Rare it is.

Donal Fox...



...Gone City (featuring spoken word by Quincy Troupe)


Cecil Taylor...



...Always A Pleasure (featuring my co-conspirator Longineu Parsons on trumpet)


Sam Rivers...



...Fuchsia Swing Song


McCoy Tyner...



...Fly With The Wind

Tyner w/strings. The strings don't kill the power of McCoy.
They just add to the beauty of the compositions


Doug Carn...



...Revelation (Just because.)


The World Saxophone Quartet...



...Rhythm & Blues

Their take on classic R&B tunes is really hip.
(From For The Love of Money to Night Train)
Btw, David Murray is alive and well in Paris.


Maybe more later.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

guitarslinger44 said:

Where are u?