Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: The reissue of Doug Watkins' seminal album Watkins at Large provides an essential restoration of a jazz classic, originally recorded in 1956. This Tone Poet Vinyl Edition, meticulously produced by Joe Harley and mastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray, offers aficionados a pristine auditory experience. This version is presented in a deluxe tip-on jacket with an included booklet. At just 22 years old, Watkins led a remarkable ensemble featuring jazz icons such as Donald Byrd on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Duke Jordan on piano, and Art Taylor on drums. This album features Watkins' masterful bass play, as he navigates through blues, ballads, and more with his band. Tracks like 'Return to Paradise' and 'Phil T. McNasty's Blues' highlight Watkins' ability to blend seamlessly with and support his stellar lineup, making Watkins at Large a must-have. This reissue is not only a tribute to Watkins' legacy but also a necessary addition for collectors and new fans alike, given the rarity and high cost of original pressings.

Review: Acclaimed saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins's third studio album, Blues Blood, is quite possibly his most expansive yet. Co-produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, the meditative project features his quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Rick Rosato on bass and Kweku Sumbry on drums alongside vocalists Ganavya, June McDoom, and Yaw Agyeman. Special guests include vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant, guitarist Marvin Sewell, and drummer Chris Dave. Blues Blood explores ancestral legacies and bloodlines, and the album marks the first time Wilkins has incorporated vocalists into his work with each voice contributing a unique dimension to themes of heritage and connection. That helps to make this a deeply reflective and resonant album.

Review: Hot on the heels of Blue Note's 2024 lineup announcement of their esteemed Tone Poet series - which reissues classic jazz albums for a contemporary audience hungry for audiophile quality editions - comes this eagerly-awaited new version of Anthony Williams' Life Time. A five-piece north star of free jazz and debut record by the expansive drummer, the album held a crucial repute throughout Williams' career as the inspirational namesake of his later band with John McLaughlin, the Tony Williams Lifetime Band. This one, however, pre-empts this movement and instead hears contributions from such greats as Richard Davis, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter, riding high on the wave of divine-genius-by-proxy after already having performed with Miles Davis at the age of 18. Blast back to 1964 with this ideal free jazz intro.

Review: American jazz drummer Tony Williams rose to acclaim as a member of Miles Davis' so-called 'Second Great Quintet'. He later went on to pioneer jazz fusion with the group and formed his own outfit, the Tony Williams Lifetime. In 1986 he released 'Civilization', which marked a triumphant return to Blue Note and a great window into his visionary approach to jazz. Leading a stellar acoustic quintet with Wallace Roney (trumpet), Billy Pierce (sax), Mulgrew Miller (piano) and Charnett Moffett (bass), Williams served up a dynamic set of original compositions that pulse with intensity and technical brilliance, as well as emotional depth, while taking post-bop tradition into new relays. Each player brings sharp improvisational insight, but it's Williams' explosive yet precise drumming that anchors the session.

Review: Cassandra Wilson originally released Blue Light 'til Dawn in 1993 on Blue Note. Gathering together selected covers of blues and rock classics, Wilson and her band turn them to sultry, smoky jazz pieces with an evocative, late-night mood. From Robert Johnson and Joni Mitchell to Ann Peebles and Van Morrison, there are some heavy hitters covered here, but don't overlook the original title track. Amongst everything else it shows off Gib Wharton's stunning pedal steel guitar, which lends itself to this moody hue Wilson and her cohorts conjure so effectively.