Rudolph Johnson - The Second Coming

Dope jazz with an edge, which is nothing less than what you expect from a Black Jazz album. Released in 1973, this record features four Rudolph Johnson originals and one tune written by Kirk Lightsey, who plays piano. Doug Sides plays drums, Kent Brinkley plays bass and Rudolph Johnson plays his tenor sax and is also credited as the arranger. All the tunes are nice but The Traveler and The Highest Pleasure stands out for me.

1. The Traveler
2. Time And Space
3. The Highest Pleasure
4. The Water Bearer
5. The Second Coming

Link removed at the request of Black Jazz Records

Cleveland Eaton - Plenty Good Eaton

A jazz-funk outing from bass player Cleveland Eaton, with a little early disco feeling. Released on Black Jazz in 1975. Players include Ed Green on violin and viola, Artee Payne on tenor and flute, John Watson on trombone, Ernest Johnson on guitar, Kenneth Prince on electric piano and Morris Jennings on percussion.
On the back cover, Eaton gives props to his musical idols; Maurice White, Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. These influences are not hard to detect on this album.
Cleveland handles the vocalizing himself and he does a fine job, especially on the soul pearl Are You Out There Somewhere Caring. It might not be the greatest vocal in the world from a technical point of view but damn, he sounds cool and confident (think in the lines of Paul Jacksons vocal on God Made Me Funky). There are also two nice jazz tunes, typical for the Black Jazz label.

1. Chi-Town Theme
2. Keena
3. Moe, Let's Have A Party
4. Are You Out There Somewhere Caring
5. Kaiser 405
6. All Your Lover, All Day, All Night
7. Hamburg 302

Link removed at the request of Black Jazz Records

Gene Russell - Talk To My Lady

Here's a quick post before I go to bed. Released on Black Jazz in 1973, this record is pretty much the usual Black Jazz-sound, plus there's a sort of pop-jazz version of You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Get Down is fine ass, funky jazz with a heavy bassline intro. Players are Henry Franklin on bass, Calvin Keys on guitar, Ndugu on drums, Charles Weaver on conga drums and Eddie Gee joins in on tambourine.

1. Talk To My Lady
2. Get Down
3. Me And Mrs. Jones
4. For Heaven's Sake
5. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
6. Blues Suite
7. My Favorite Things
8. If You Could See Me Now

Link removed at the request of Black Jazz Records