Category Archives: Contributors

Category for contributors and guest authors for posts, articles and recordings.

John Lamkin

“Jazz Room Records kicks off 2025 with a massive scorcher.
welcomed reissue of trumpeter John Lamkin’s extremely rare 1984 jazz-funk album appropriately titled, Hot”

Label: JazzRoom Records
Catalogue Number: JAZZR041
Release Date: Digital album releases March 7, 2025
Format: LP Vinyl / Digital

Brilliant from start to finish, this 6-track recording incorporates everything from heavy blend of funky jazz grooves and soaring trumpet solos, to Latin rhythms, and boogie-inspired bass lines. Standout tracks include the jazz dance heater “Ticket”, the Brazilian-tinged “722”, the laid-back jazz-funk bopper “Aiya”, and the soulful “Flower” to name a few. With original copies now going for $200-300, it’s great to see this incredible recording receiving a proper reissue release. Don’t walk, run to snatch up a copy when this one hits the record

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Sharon Shares 

Extracts From The Last Note By Sharon McMahan

A Budding Songwriter
As I was growing up, I Started to take notice of the songs coming from the radio. One day when I came home from school, I was listening to the radio and one of the songs I liked came on. It was called Mother-in-law by Ernie K. Doe. I was twelve years old. I remember sitting at the piano and really talking time to concentrate on the beat and how the singing came in.
The more I listened, I began to think to myself that I should be able to copy that beat on to the piano. I started out by finding the note in bas and I began to play it with the left hand, to the beat. After playing the bass for a few bars, I tried to find the cord that would match with the right hand.Once I had both the bass and the chord, I started playing them back and forth like a drum and I was able to get the rhythm going as I played along with the song on the radio.

After the song was over, I sat there and thought about what I had just done. I was very surprised. I asked myself, “what just happened” ? After thinking about it for a minute or two, I concluded that I should be able to make up my own songs.

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Joel Semper Brockman talking with Mr Ron Thatch

One such artist is Mr. Ron Thatch. A timeless and largely unsung Talent in his elder years, everybit of the Star he was in his youth. Ron, from Cleveland, Ohio was a child prodigy who went on to be the lead singer in the original incarnation of the Dazz Band. As destiny would have it the path to Ron’s MoJo recordings began with the lifelong collaborations of Semper and Jimmy Smith.

MoJo Records began in 1974 as a conduit for Jimmy Smiths solo and collaborative projects alongside recordings with BlueNote, Verve and other labels.

Releasing several 45s and LPs in the 70s MoJo laid dormant until their last recordings in 1987. George returned to San Diego his hometown for Family matters in 1983. Ever the music entrepreneur Semper connected with his old Friend Jimmy Smith and manager Wife Lola to reactivate the MoJo label. Joining as Vice President Semper A&Rd several up and coming local artists and recommendations. Nathaniel “Basey” Johnson founded and produced the band Pure Funk in 1976 with Ron on lead vocals. Basey recommended Thatch to George based on his unique R&B voice, writing ability and dynamic performances.

Continue reading The George Semper Music Archives – Joel Semper Brockman →

Finding The First Copy with Ady Croasdell

The 6Ts Rhythm and Soul Society was co-founded in August 1979 by Randy Cozens and Ady Croasdell. The first dance was held in a function room called Henri’s at the Bedford Head pub in Maiden Lane in London’s Covent Garden. The first night was a great success with soul records, dancing, carousing and debauchery.

​One more equally splendid night was held there before the management rebuilt the pub and kicked us out. ​By then we had a solid following and with the help of one of the first club mailing lists that we had established, sent out slightly amusing newsletters before each dance and got the crowd to follow us to our next venue. At this stage, Ian Clark’s graphics for the newsletter and membership card were very much a part of the set-up.

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Finding The First Copy with Ady Croasdell

Bernadine or Berna-Dean Washington recorded seven singles for producer Dave Bartholomew in New Orleans in the early 60s. A protégée of Earl King, her final single was released on Los Angeles’ GNP Crescendo label in 1964 and is stylistically similar to her previous Imperial and Post 45s. ‘Don’t Try To Tell Me’ and ‘Laughing On The Outside’ were cut for GNP but the company never followed up on her ‘This Is The City’ single.

Both tracks are in a more soulful style than her released sides and are attracting much attention on the current retro R&B scene and with the rare soul crowd also. This is their first public hearing.

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The History of Paul Tilman Smith, so far…

The Bay Area Jazz Society Presents “Higher Power Project”, featuring American Idol finalist Donnie Williams.

THIS IS A PHENOMENAL CD BUT NOT ONE PERSON HAS PURCHASED IT FROM MY HOMETOWN OF OAKLAND AND LIKE THE MUSIC WRITER FROM EUROPE SAID” Most records he has ever heard that a hundred percent of the money goes into a fund to help struggling ARTISTS is usually the most raggedy record you could ever find. Then he turned and stated in his article “The Higher Power Project is a collectors item”.

Continue reading The History of Paul Tilman Smith, so far… →

Paul Murphy – Jazz Room

PAUL MURPHY PRESENTS:COPA SALVO コパサルーヴォ


JAZZ ROOM RECORDS – JAZZR 040 RELEASED 23/11/2024

I took a trip to the If Music Store, 2nd Floor, above the paint shop and that got me hooked on the sound of COPA SALVO.

“You NEED this!” said Jean-Claude. “They’re an amazing and unique Jazzy Combo from Japan!” But at the time I was stuck in some dead end Gulag job getting things together for the launch of a record label idea I’d been working on and the bobs were just not in abundance. Especially in the part of the wallet marked “Japanese Vinyl Import Department”. But he gave it a spin and I was pretty much hooked from that day on.

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Lorraine Feather was born in Manhattan. Her parents named her Billie Jane Lee Lorraine after godmother Billie Holiday, her mother Jane formerly a big band singer, her mother’s ex room-mate Peggy Lee, and the song “Sweet Lorraine.” She is the daughter of the late jazz writer Leonard Feather. The Feathers moved to L.A. when Lorraine was 12 at 18, after two years as a theatre arts major at L.A. City College, she returned to New York to pursue an acting career.

Listen to  “Waiting Tables”
Some touring, off-Broadway work and the Broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar followed, interspersed with countless waitressing jobs up and down Manhattan’s West Side. Frequently out of work, and discouraged by more than one restaurateur from pursuing a career in the food service industry, Lorraine decided to try singing. She began working with various jazz and Top 40 bands in and around New York. She sang backup for Petula Clark and Grand Funk Railroad, and finally put her own act together, eventually moving back to L.A., where she sang at local jazz clubs. Soon after, she joined producer Richard Perry’s vocal trio Full Swing and recorded three albums with the group.

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Soul Underground with Karl White

Northern Soul – The Post Wigan Years


The following article was written for the sleeve note of the 10 CD Box Set The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule compiled by Ian Dewhirst and released at the beginning of 2015.  It is a brief overview of the Northern/Rare Soul scene since the demise of Wigan Casino.  it is by no means a comprehensive and full overview of what was happening and has happened since 1980/1981.  It focuses only on the main all-nighters of the time.  There has been 100s off venues since Wigan that have held an all-nighter and it was impossible to mention all within the constraints of the word count I was held to.  It neither focuses on Soul Nights of which there was literally 1000s and even more today.  The majority held no influence on the scene in the way the likes of Blackpool Mecca did.  That isn’t to say there was none, some are featured but many are not as space didn’t allow .  Hopefully there will be a book to follow that will feature many of the venues and clubs omitted.

Much has been written about the Northern Soul scene up to the demise of The Wigan Casino, but very little has actually been written about what followed. For many, the scene died when Wigan Casino closed its doors for the final time. These same people would perversely discover that the scene was far from dead and that a hard-core crowd had continued to keep the flame burning and in the process, had taken the scene back underground with an aggressive upfront music policy.

Continue reading Soul Underground with Karl White →

History of – Paul Tilman Smith……So Far

19/07/24

The Norman Connors days.
Me and Norman were the young Jazz drummer up-and-comers in the sixties in New York. Normans momma was in Philadelphia and mine was in California. Norman could run to his momma’s house to eat while I starved to death,lol. We were best friends but god obviously had different intentions for the both of us. Norman had no idea I had a love for writing silly little songs on the piano from the age of fifteen.

After I left the Jazz Avant Garde John Coltrane era and came back to Oakland I kept playing but started writing again. In the mean time Norman became one of the best show-men Jazz drummers around and people started noticing him and the right record producer gave him a shot and making records and he then started making great records. We had made a pack that if either one of us could ever help the other we would so the band Vitamin E was born. His wife named the band and I at first hated that name but now ironically I use Vitamin E everyday, hahahahahahaha!

Continue reading History of – Paul Tilman Smith……So Far →

Aflex Combo

“Hibaros” / “Something Blue”

Label: Jazz Room Records 
Catalogue Number: JAZZR 039
Release Date: July 2024  
Format:  7’ Vinyl

Japanese Producer and multi-instrumentalist Keisuke Yamazoe’s outfit Aflex Combo are a super jazzy jazz-funk outfit whose occasional releases are always incendiary. Jazz Room Records are pleased to release this special cover of the underground club classic “Hibaros” by B&G Rhythm (Donny Beck & Steve Gutierrez and featuring Bobby Lyle!) and after one listen you will agree that this is a must-check 45! Over on the flip is “Something Special”, a Latin-tinged jazz-funk number that’s every bit as essential as the floor rocking A-side.

Paul Murphy
https://jazzroomrecords.com/

Micky Gynn – Soulful Football

Soulful Football Update: 28/04/2024

Heart To Heart  “Tuff” (Raven Records) LP 1982
Although this once obscure album, was a real, collectors dream, in 2015, it got an official reissue. Why pay £1000 for an original, when you can get it for £50. The original, I would say, always sounds so much better though. Lol.
A soul group, out of,  Atlanta, Georgia. The standout tune on this 1982 album, Nowhere, To Go, is superb. My type of early 80s midtempo soul. Also, on the album is another mellow tune, Never, make A Believer of Me, which was also released as a 45.
These fabulous local labels, with this gem, out of Dothan, Alabama keep the soul world ticking along.

Continue reading Micky Gynn – Soulful Football →

Sharon Shares 

Updated 10-01-24

Sharon was born in Sevierville, Tennessee but raised and musically disciplined in Detroit, Michigan.

Sharon began her career, as a teen in Detroit, Michigan. She wrote her first songs at the age of 12. After auditioning her, Ollie McLaughlin launched her writing career by publishing and producing and releasing several of her songs on his own record lables, KAREN, CARLA, MOIRA & RUTH Records. McLaughlin recorded Sharons songs on major artists, Barbara Lewis, Deon Jackson, Gracie Darnell and Johnnie Mae Matthews. He also secured a UK release for Sharon’s song, Someday We’re Gonna Love Again, recorded by the London based group, The Searchers. It charted to #11 in Billboard, in several countries and to #23 here in the United States, in 1964/65. Thus, Sharon has a tremendous fan base in the UK and Western Europe.

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Atlanta – Hotbed Of 70s Soul

Label: Kent Records
Catalogue Number: CDKEND 518
Release Date: 29rd March 2024  
Format: CD

The GRC Records set-up in Atlanta produced a wealth of great soul music. Because of the sudden curtailment of the company, due to owner Michael Thevis’ incarceration, so much of it never saw a release.

The tapes were preserved though and with many tracks being issued. This latest batch of tape discoveries is of shockingly high quality. Sam Dees’ presence is a major cause of this.

Standouts include Miss Louistine’s original version of ‘Con Me’ – surely a contender to be a Deep Soul Treasure, had Dave Godin heard it. Her take on Dees’ ‘Extra Extra’ is possibly the opposite emotion – sheer joy at finding her lover; equally well expressed. ‘Paperman’ is a classic mid 70s Dees’ composition, well sung by Wes Lewis with his group Alpaca Phase III. Dees collaborated with another major GRC talent, Joe Hinton, for the funkier ‘Shouldn’t I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong’. Hinton co-penned two songs with backing singer Louvain Demps who left her job with Motown’s backing girls the Andantes to move to Atlanta with Hinton. Their ‘Grant Me One More Day’ is a beautiful track and ‘Depend On Me’ is another worthy find.

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