Presents: COZMOS “Watusa” / “Meditations On Integration”
Label: Jazzroom Records
Catalogue Number: 043
Release Date: End of June 2025
Format: 7′ Vinyl
When a limited edition 45 single landed on the desk of Jazz Room Head Honcho Paul Murphy he contacted the guys straight away. “Do you want a 45 piece of wax released on Jazz Room Records?” Bells were ringing!
Continue reading Paul Murphy – Jazz Room
I’m Robbie Love, also known as Mic Culture Robbie Love. A proud R&B singer, songwriter, and entertainer with deep roots in soul. In 2024, my single ‘24-7’ received three Grammy nomination considerations: Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song. But the story doesn’t begin there.
I was raised in a rock and roll household, guided by the soulful spirit of my mother the legendary Queen of Northern Soul, Ms. Mary Love. From childhood, I was surrounded by the greats of the ’60s and beyond, and their music shaped the artist I am today.
The Surgery
A Lifetime in Black Music
Bob Jones career in the music business started in May 1966. His music policy was, as it is now, the highest quality black music, featuring soul, dance and jazz, and he has been recognized worldwide as one of the first DJs ever to play jazz to a dance floor as early as 1971. It’s seems unbelievable to think Dr Bob is still filling dance – floors across planet Earth 55+ years since he started in May 1966. In 1979 he was instrumental in DJing at the world’s first ever soul and jazz Dance Weekender at Caister in Norfolk, England, and went on to play at 24 Caisters.
He has played in numerous clubs and venues across England, Europe and the world and In 1987, Dr Bob DJ’d at the first Southport Dance Weekender, started by Northern club promoter Alex Lowes. This event has gained full respect from the music industry worldwide with the good Dr playing 44 Weekenders [22years] He also DJ’d at the famous Monday night Jazz Sessions at London’s Wag Club alongside Gilles Peterson, Kevin Beadle and Sylvester, and was resident at the now famous Sunday Jazz Sessions at Dingwalls , Camden Lock, London with Gilles Peterson Patrick Forge & Kev Beadle.
Continue reading Dr Bob Jones
A lot of people don’t realize why myself and drummer record producer Norman Connors are dear friends today. Firstly, he was with me on my gig when he met his first wife. His self don’t even remember. I remember cause he was lucky to catch her,lol. I was sitting back with nobody. Also, we were the youngest drummers on the New York Jazz scene right after John Coltrane died. I knew all of John’s drummers and was gonna try and steal their job if John hadn’t died.
Continue reading The History of Paul Tilman Smith, so far…
“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
Continue reading John Lamkin
“Let’s Not Say Goodnight” / “Just Can Wait”
Label: Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue Number: ZP-109
Release Date: 31st January 2025
Format: 7’ Vinyl
Excited to announce Julian Jonah’s JULIAN JONAH’s latest creations, Let’s Not Say Goodnight”and “Just Can’t Wait “We are blessed to feature American powerhouse singer – the truly fabulous Robbie Love (daughter of the late great Mary Love).
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.
Continue reading Sharon SharesJoel 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
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
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
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 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.
Robbie Love’s musical journey began the day she was born. Growing up in a rock & roll household, Robbie is no stranger to the music industry. It wasn’t unusual for her and her brothers to go shoot billiards at the home of front man Dennis Edwards of the Temptations or to spend weekends over Uncle Charles Wright of the Watts 103 Street Rhythm band’s house, or even get a knock on the door from Mr. Willie Hutch. Robbie’s first photo shoot was at the tender age of 4 months by Mr. Lamont Mc Lemore, one of the founding members of the acclaimed musical group
The Fifth Dimensions.
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
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