Category Archives: Contributors

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

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.

Continue reading Finding The First Copy with Ady Croasdell

New and Jazzy Releases for October 2024 

Jazz First by Tony Poole

Teen Town by Gil Evans Remembered from ‘Live at the Cutting Room, NYC (Dot Time Legends) 
The classic Jaco Pastorious / Weather Report recording from their 1977 album Heavy Weather is given the live big band jazz treatment from a one-nighter recorded in 2014. Gil Evans is famously quoted as saying “let’s see where the music can go!”… This version goes straight into the stratosphere. 

Continue reading New and Jazzy Releases for October 2024 

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.

Continue reading Finding The First Copy with Ady Croasdell

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…

New and Jazzy Releases for September 2024

Jazz First by Tony Poole

So Tender / Games (instrumental) by The Medium Wave Band 45 (Mr Bongo)Rare UK jazz funk unearthed by Gary from Mr Bongo. The Birmingham-based band line-up was Elliot Browne on guitar (lead & rhythm), Ron Lyseight on guitar (rhythm), Andrew Proverbs on keyboards, Tony Peart on drums, Paul Snook on bass, Linton Levy on saxophone, and the vocals of Jaki Graham. Private pressing with only 200 pressed and has never appeared on Discogs. It was sold mostly in Birmingham at Summit Records by the band’s friend DJ Frenchi. They played live shows across the country, including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, and supported both Shakatak and Weapon of Peace in Birmingham. Available to pre-order on limited edition 7in single, released on Nov 29.
https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/so-tender-games-instrumental

Nao Sei by Marcos Valle from Tunel Acoustico (Far Out Recordings)A fabulous model-waltz like (think ‘Golden Brown’) MPB Marcos composition that features two members of the renowned Brazilian jazz-funk group Azymuth: Alex Malheiros on bass and Renato Massa on drums plus some nice trumpet c/o Jessé Sadoc. Percussion by Ian Moreira.

Continue reading New and Jazzy Releases for September 2024

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.

Continue reading Paul Murphy – Jazz Room

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.

Continue reading

New and Jazzy Releases for August 2024

Jazz First by Tony Poole

Here’s another set of ten new jazz track recommendations worth checking out released during August 2024.

Being There by Andy Hay from Polaris (Andy Hay Music)
From Andy’s sixth album and following on from ‘’Children Of The Sun’ which featured the jazz dance monster ‘I Believe In Love’. The welsh drummer provides another spiritual set from the heart. Included is this modal groover that’s sure to receive plenty of air-play.

Palo de Oros (Suit of Coins) by Patricia Brennan Septet from Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic Records)
Vibraphonist, marimbist and composer Patriocia Brennan has been widely feted as one of the instrument’s newer leaders. On this, the lead single, following an extended bass solo intro by Kim Cass, the band launches into an ‘on the edge’, almost chaotic, jazz attack with wild horns and electronic zings. Brennan gives a dynamic solo between drums and percussion…Boom!

Continue reading New and Jazzy Releases for August 2024

New and Jazzy Releases for July 2024

Jazz First by Tony Poole

Nana Afrika by Mausiki Scales from Long Memory (Tippin’ da Scales Music)
Keybordist and founder of the Atlanta-based Afro Beat Funk ensemble, Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective. Their music bears influence to the music of Fela Kuti and Roy Ayers. The infectious ‘Nana Afrika’ features a killer groove with added spiritual poetry. Nana, West African (Ghana) literal meaning ‘grandparent, elder, ancester’. No doubt  a future worldwide groove club classic.

Roll The Dice (Raregroove Reprise) by Soulpersona & Carl Hudson fom Magic Bullet. (Sunset City Records)
Potentially the peoples choice pick from the duo’s new album ‘Magic Bullet’. Remixed into a more jazzier affair that highlights the Fender Rhodes and trumpet solos. An exclusive bonus mix only available on Bandcamp. Also included on this 3-track EP is a vocal version featuring Deborah Bond.

Continue reading New and Jazzy Releases for July 2024

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/

Jazz First – Tony Poole

Tony’s love affair with jazz was ignited in 1984 when he was presented the opportunity to host a jazz programme on a hospital radio station. One of the few ways to broadcast legally in the UK back in the day. Since 1977, as a DJ he had been championing soul and jazz funk in his locale of north London, Herts & Essex. Then having just discovered the UK Jazz Dance scene this was a welcome opportunity to progress one step further.

That same year Paul Murphy released his first Phonogram compilation LP ‘Jazz Club 1’ which proved to be a valuable starting point for a new musical direction. In fact, Paul was Tony’s first ever radio interview, carried out at his long-defunkt Palladin Record label office in Soho.

Continue reading Jazz First – Tony Poole

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