THE NEW DAY THIS SATURDAY

NEW DAY MIX FROM ROBERT WELLS

New mix from Robert Wells to promote our upcoming soul night The New Day - Sophisticated Soul Party at The Highball Austin. Bang this in your jeeps all week and on this Saturday the 17th get down on the dance floor!

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED RECORD

Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Red, Black and Green

The words versatile and multi-talented seem to damn vibraphonist/bandleader Roy Ayers with faint praise, but summing up a musician of this quality without going over the moon is a tough task. Known to the hip-hop generation as Icon Man of acid jazz, Roy Ayers roots extend deep into bop. He started playing with West Coast jazz ensembles back in the early Sixties when he was 22 or so, working with the likes of Chico Hamilton, Gerald Wilson and Hampton Hawes, among others.

In 1966, he hooked up with jazz flutist Herbie Mann, and performed and recorded him for four years, most notably on Mann's Concerto Grosso In D Blues and Memphis Underground albums. By 1970, he was ready to move on, which he did with Mann's blessing and assistance. He formed the Roy Ayers Ubiquity, with an ever-changing cast that included saxman Sonny Fortune (who appears on this disc) and percussionists Billy Cobham and Alphonse Mouzon (who don't).

Red Black & Green came along in 1973, at about midpoint in Ayers' Polydor career. He manages to straddle the line between jazz and soul quite comfortably, but that was an era (think Grover Washington Jr. and George Benson's CTI-era recordings) when the borders were fluid. The disc went Top 5 on the Billboard jazz chart, though it contains versions of such soul classics as Papa Was A Rolling Stone and Ain't No Sunshine.

 

ALL JAZZ IS 20% OFF THIS WEEK!

NEW INTERVIEW WITH OWNER DAVID HAFFNER

Covering all things record related. Be sure to check out the rare gems Dave is currently jamming. Read HERE.

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED RECORD

James Vincent - Culmination

Recorded in the winter of 1971 but not released until 1974. It is almost entirely instrumental, featuring many renowned musicians of the day, and it is appreciated by the more eclectic listeners of music.

 

ALL JAZZ IS 20% OFF THIS WEEK!

KANGAROO LOVE

Check out Rod McKuen giving this baby albino kangaroo the bedroom eyes. Not creepy at all.

BACKSPIN CLOSING FESTIVITIES (T.R.O.Y.)

More info and lineup schedule here. Come out and help us send BackSpin off properly!

12/07 GROMMIT @ BARCELONA