Various Artists - Bossa Nova & The Rise Of Brazillian Music In The 1960's (Soul Jazz Records)

Another great release from UK record label Soul Jazz Records. Forget the cocktail-sipping tropical image that bossa nova became, bossa nova’s origins in Brazil are that of a stunning modernist and revolutionary music that reflected the radical and exciting idealism of the country at the start of the 1960s. This music is the real deal!

This two disc compilation charts the rise of the events that led to the arrival of this new musical movement and what happened next. João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Elis Regina, Gilberto Gil and Baden Powell all feature alongside many other Brazilian artists who launched their careers during this amazing period.

Tracklist:

1. Elis Regina — Roda

2. Roberto Menescal — Inverno

3. Joao Gilberto — O Sapo

4. Ginga Trio — Yemanja

5. Jorge Ben — Lalari-Olala

6. Dorival Caymmi — Berimbau

7. Sergio Mendes & Bossa Rio — Primitivo

8. Nara Leao — Birimbau

9. Tamba Trio — Mas Que Nada

10. Baden Powell & Vinicius Moraes — Canto De Ossanha

11. Zimbo Trio — Zimbo Samba

12. Gilberto Gil — Viramundo

13. Elis Regina — Menino Das Laranjas

14. Edu Lobo — Jogo De Roda

15. Elizete Cardoso — Vida Bela

16. Dom Um Romao — Jangal

17. Wanda Sa — Adriana

18. Elizete Cardoso — E De Lei

19. Antonio Carlos Jobim — O Morro Nao Tem Vez

20. Edu Lobo — Ponteio

21. Tamba 4 — Samba Blim

22. Pery Ribeiro — Canto Negro

23. Maria Bethania — Ye-Mele

24. Miltinho — Faca Como Eu

25. Jorge Ben — Rosa, Menina Rosa

26. Milton Nascimento — Tres Pontas

27. Baden Powell & Vinicius De Moraes — Canto De Xango

28. Zelia Barbosa — Carcara

29. Tamba Trio — Boranda

30. Geraldo Vandre — Hora De Lutar

31. Elis Regina — Tereza Sabe Sambar

32. Edu Lobo — Aguaverde

33. Jorge Ben — Carnaval Triste

34. Marilia Medalha — Maria Moita

Download Link - Mediafire

Various Artists - New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound Of Funk Vol. 2 (Soul Jazz Records)

This is Soul Jazz Records’ new journey into the heart of New Orleans and a guide to the city’s finest Funk music produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s.’ Featuring everyone from The Meters to Eddie Bo, Lee Dorsey to Betty Harris, this is a who’s who of the Crescent City’s most famous and most funky! The city of New Orleans has deep musical roots that stretch back to Africa. New Orleans first gave birth to Jazz music, a Black musical form centred on rhythm, improvisation, freedom and collectivity at the turn of the century. Similarly in the late 1960s New Orleans Funk came to define a unique sound, mixing Caribbean rhythms, New Orleans second-line syncopation and rhythm and blues, all played by the Big Easy’s finest musicians. 

Whilst Jazz and Funk music spread throughout the world, many African-American musical traditions remained within the city limits such as Mardi Gras and Carnival, Saturday Night Fish Fries, Funeral Marching bands and much more which partly explains why New Orleans music is so unique. The album comes with extensive sleeve-notes, exclusive photography and more, and is an essential guide to the musical landscape of New Orleans and - together with Soul Jazz Records’ earlier New Orleans’ releases - presents the definitive story of New Orleans Funk.

Although on the mainland coast, New Orleans is also surrounded by lakes giving the city an island feel. Similarly its proximity to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti and the other West Indian Isles means that Latin and Caribbean musical influences are in its veins as much as American musical traditions. The upside of this city’s isolation is that New Orleans musical traditions flourished away from those of the rest of America. A thriving city full of artists, musicians, singers, producers, record companies, studios (well one studio actually) led to a 24-hour, 7-day a week musical life, playing in clubs, bars, brothels, carnivals and parades. The downside of the cities isolation from the rest of the US was that the city never developed a solid music industry to back up the creative over-supply. Whilst New York had Atlantic, Detroit had Motown, Memphis had Stax, Chicago had Chess, Los Angeles had Modern, New Orleans had a multitude of small businesses fighting for space - and often each other. Without the marketing, promotional weight, business nouse and financial clout, New Orleans labels found it hard to get the nationwide distribution necessary to fill the million-odd jukeboxes throughout the country. So whilst every family in America knows the music of Gladys Knight or Smokey Robinson few could tell you about – let alone hum a tune from - Benny Spellman, Inell Young, Warren Lee….

This is far from being a reflection of the artists creativity or musicality - as anyone can tell you New Orleans melodies are the catchiest of all - more it is a reflection of the limitations of the local music industry. Some New Orleans artists became successful throughout the US such as Fats Domino in the 1950s and in the late 1960s The Meters and Lee Dorsey, but many artists remained within the city limits. This makes for a fascinating goldmine of music released by a complex myriad of small labels run mainly by New Orleans producers, promoters and artists themselves. New Orleans Funk 2 brings together many of these artists along with text, sleeve-notes and photographs that gives social and historical context to the incredibly funky music of New Orleans.

----- www.souljazzrecords.co.uk

Tracklist:

1. Cyril Neville — Gossip

2. Eddie Bo — If It's Good To You (It's Good For You)

3. Ray J — Right Place Wrong Time

4. The Meters — Chicken Strut

5. Allen Toussaint — Tequila

6. The Prime Mates — Hot Tamales

7. Betty Harris — Show It

8. Lee Dorsey — Four Corners

9. Bonnie And Sheila — You Keep Me Hanging On

10. The Gaturs — Yeah You're Right, You Know You're Right

11. Danny White — The Twitch

12. Inell Young — What Do You See In Her

13. Earl King — Street Parade

14. Eddie Bo & The Soul Finders — The Rubber Band

15. Benny Spellman — Fortune Teller

16. Warren Lee — Mama Said We Can't Get Married

17. Betty Harris — 12 Red Roses

18. Joe Chopper & The Swinging 7 Soul Band — Soul Pusher

19. Eddie Bo — Hey Bo

20. Johnny Moore — Haven't I Been Good To You

21. Jimmy Hicks — I'm Mr Big Stuff

22. Warren Lee — Funky Belly

23. G. Davis And R. Tyler — Hold On Help Is On The Way

24. Art Neville — Bo Diddley

25. Porgy Jones — Dap

Download Link - Mediafire

New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960-75 (Soul Jazz Records)

This collection of New Orleans Funk features acknowledged masters next to some of the earlier artists who shaped the meaning of funk. The album is also filled with many rare, sought after and undiscovered funk tracks. It covers the period from the emergence of New Orleans Funk in the early 1960's through to the mid-seventies. The record is a great addition to the music collection of anyone in any way interested in Funk. It has some vital ingredients in it that you can't find elsewhere.

With the sound of the New Orleans Funeral March Bands, Mardi Gras Indian Tribes and Saturday Night Fish Fries all as inspiration New Orleans Funk developed into a unique sound. New Orleans is a port town. Originally owned by the French, this was where many slaves were brought from the West Indies. Many of these slaves came from Haiti and brought with them the religion of Voodoo and its drums and music. It became one of the first parts of America to develop a strong African-American culture leading to the invention of Jazz in the early 1900s. 

A main feature of Jazz in New Orleans were the Jazz Funeral Marching bands. Solemn Brass bands accompanying a coffin would, on burial, be joined by a second line of drummers and dancers which would turn the event into a celebration of the spirit cutting free from earth. This African tradition is strong in New Orleans and still goes on to this day. The backline drums play a syncopated style that is neither on the beat nor the off-beat. These rhythms are what forms the basis of New Orleans Funk.

Tracklist:

1. The Meters - Handclapping Song
2. The Explosions - Hip Drop
3. Lee Dorsey - Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further
4. Gentleman June Gardner - It's Gonna Rain
5. Eddie Bo - Check your Bucket
6. Professor Longhair - Big Chief
7. Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns - Free, Single and Disengaged
8. Chuck Carbo - Can I Be your Squeeze
9. Aaron Neville - Hercules
10. Mary Jane Hooper - I've Got Reasons
11. The Gaturs - Gator Bait
12. Allen Toussaint - Get Out of my Life Woman
13. Cyril Neville - Tell Me What's On Your Mind
14. Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indian Band - Handa Wanda
15. Lee Dorsey and Betty Harris - Love Lots of Lovin
16. The Explosions - Garden of Four Trees
17. Ernie & The Top Notes - Dap Walk
18. The Meters - Just Kissed my Baby
19. Marilyn Barbarin - Reborn
20. Dr John - Mama Roux
21. Danny White - Natural Soul Brother
22. Eddie Bo - Hook 'n' Sling (Part II)
23. Ernie K. Doe - Here Come the Girls
24. Robert Parker - Hip-Huggin

Download Link - Mediafire