Odean Pope, Out for a Walk (Moers 1990)

Most sites list this disc as a 1990 release, but Odean Pope's official website lists it as a 1980 recording, two years before Almost Like Me. Regardless, Out for a Walk starts where Almost Like Me leaves off. The two discs could easily have been recorded at the same session. It's the same line up, with Gerald Veasley on bass and Cornell Rochester on drums stretching out and playing some serious modern music. There's nothing else out there quite like this, funky modern Philly jazz with some amazingly serious bass. Not to be missed.

Odean Pope, Almost Like Me (Moers 1982)

Here's Odean Pope's outstanding and very hard to find first release as leader. Some hard-core funky slap bass Philly modern jazz, with Cornell Rochester on drums and Gerald Veasley on bass playing some of their best work. This is the album Jamaaladeen Tacuma should always have recorded. Don't miss track 7, the deeply funky and African influenced "Mwalimu." Highly recommended.

Track Listings
1. Elixir
2. Almost Like Me
3. Multiphonics
4. Scorpio Twins
5. No Air
6. Kyle's Theme
7. Mwalimu
8. Good Question

Miles Davis, Avery Fisher Hall NY 1975

Any 1975 recording of the funk collective is a treat, and this July 1975 band recording is a real surprise. The sound quality is surprisingly good, and it's a rare recording of the funk collective at its height. Personnel is:
Miles Davis (tpt, org)
Sam Morrison (ss, ts, fl)
Pete Cosey (g, perc)
Reggie Lucas (g)
Michael Henderson (el-b)
Al Foster (d)
James Mtume Foreman (cga, perc)

Tracks:
Band warming up 0:53
Turnaroundphrase (M. Davis) 15:14
Tune in 5 (M. Davis) 4:14
Cga/thumb piano/rhythm box interlude from 2:40.
Maiysha (M. Davis) 18:30
Untitled original 750505 (M. Davis) (with applause, announcement) 3:27
Right Off (M. Davis) 12:53
Mtume (M. Davis) 6:57
Latin (M. Davis) 6:46
Ife (M. Davis) 13:16

Harry Pepl Quartet, N.Y.C. Impressure (Extraplatte, 1992)

A hard hitting and impossibly hard to find album from the ever obscure Austrian guitarist Harry Pepl. Many of the tracks could easily be from one of Steve Coleman's best albums from the same era. Apparently this was recorded the day after a gig at the Knitting Factory. An unusually concise and funky album from the usually outside Pepl with more than the occasional nod to Miles. With Claus Stötter on trumpet and fluegelhorn, Paul Nowinski on bass and Jojo Mayer on drums. When Pepl channels Hendrix on La La La it takes my breath away. My favorite Pepl album and an easy thumbs up.

The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux (Atlantic 1977)

Killer big band jazz funk from the mid seventies. The line up is pretty amazing: The Don Ellis Orchestra, the Average White Band, the Brecker Brothers, Herbie Mann, Sonny Fortune, Klaus Doldinger, Richard Tee, Luther Vandross and well the list goes on and on. How did they get all these guys on the same stage? It's got some cheesy dated synth here and there, but the grooves are rock solid and the playing is intense. The extended "Pick up the Pieces" was edited and released on the rerelease of the Average White Band CD. I picked this up when it came out, and I still love it.

Tracks:
1 Bahia (Na Baixa Do Sapateiro) 16:32
2 Jadoo 10:34
3 Everything Must Change 6:21
4 McEwan's Export 8:58
5 One to One 9:10
6 Pick Up the Pieces 21:40

Personnel (from Wikipedia):
* Ben E. King - lead vocals
* Sonny Fortune - alto sax
* David "Fathead" Newman - alto sax
* Roger Ball - alto sax
* Herbie Mann - flute
* Dick Morrissey - tenor sax
* Molly Duncan - tenor sax
* Klaus Doldinger - tenor sax
* Michael Brecker - tenor sax
* Jaroslav Jakubovic - saxophone
* Don Ellis - trumpet
* Gilman Rathel - trumpet
* Lew Soloff - trumpet
* Randy Brecker - trumpet
* Alan Kaplan - trombone
* Barry Rogers - trombone
* Richard Tee - electric piano
* Jim Mullen - guitar
* Hamish Stuart - guitar
* Rafael Cruz - percussion
* Sammy Figueroa - percussion
* Rubens Bassini - percussion
* Alan Gorrie - bass
* Steve Ferrone - drums
* Onnie McIntyre - guitar


Backing Vocals:

* Alfa Anderson
* Diane Sumler
* Diva Gray
* Krystal Davis
* Luther Vandross
* Peter Cox
* Robin Clark

Elvin Jones, Very Rare (Koch 198?)

There have been several Elvin Jones releases with the title of "Very Rare." This one was on the Koch Jazz label and featured music from both the Very Rare and Love & Peace albums. Both sets are great, but for me the Love & Peace track "Hip Jones" is the stand out. It's a grooving modern jazz track from 1982 with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Richard Davis and Jean-Paul Bourelly. The first 6 tracks are from the earlier Very Rare release with Art Pepper, Roland Hanna and Richard Davis. The last 6 tracks are from "Love & Peace."

Tracks:
1. Sweet Mama
2. Passion Flower
3. Zange
4. Tin Tin Deo
5. Pitter Patter
6. The Witching Hour
7. Little Rocks Blues
8, Hip Jones
9. Korina
10. For Tomorrow
11. Sweet And Lovely
12. Origin

Sonny Sharrock, Dance With Me Montana (Marge 1982)

I just came across this rare and nice early 80s (pre Bill Laswell) Sonny Sharrock recording at lascintasrecuperadas.blogspot.com. Brian Olewnic's allmusic.com review leads one to think it will be unlistenable with "astonishingly leaden drumming" and how it has "one of the very worst covers in the history of recordings." Well, to start with, I don't think the cover is that bad. This is a rare treat and a pleasant surprise. I'm enjoying the recording, more than some, maybe even most, of Sharrock's later recordings with Bill Laswell. It's an easy thumbs up.

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