{"product_id":"various-soul-jazz-records-presents-black-jazz-records-the-best-of-black-jazz-records-new-2lp","title":"Various - Soul Jazz Records presents Black Jazz Records - The Best of Black Jazz Records - New 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eFormat: New \u0026amp; Sealed 2LP Label: Soul Jazz Records  Cat. No. \u003cspan\u003eSJRLP592 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBarcode: 5026328005928\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReleased: 27\/03\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis album brings together some of the finest music ever released on Black Jazz Records which in its short four-year history between 1971 and 1975, released over 20 superlative albums which all successfully blending spiritual jazz, funk and soul jazz of the highest calibre.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSimilar to other independent jazz labels at the time including Strata-East Records and Tribe Records, Black Jazz focussed on a number of key artists, most of whom first established their career during this period, and all of whom are featured here.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeaturing The Awakening, Doug Carn, Walter Bishop, Chester Thompson, Kellee Patterson and more.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack Jazz Records was founded in Oakland, California, by pianist Gene Russell and percussionist Dick Schory. The label released twenty albums between 1971 and 1975.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtists who recorded for Black Jazz Records included Cleveland Eaton (bassist for Ramsey Lewis), keyboardists Doug Carn and Chester Thompson, vocalist Kellee Patterson, saxophonist Rudolph Johnson, bassist Henry Franklin, and spiritual fusion group The Awakening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe label was distributed and financed by Ovation Records, based in Chicago. Schory founded Ovation in 1969, shortly after leaving RCA. Schory was a Grammy-nominated percussionist who was also known for his development of the stereo recording techniques including Dynagroove, and RCA Victor’s Stereo Action. Schory also pioneered quadrophonic sound, and a number of Black Jazz Records were in quadrophonic and other formats such as ¼” tape and 8-track.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack Jazz launched in 1971 with Gene Russell’s ‘New Direction’. Russell was the creative force behind the label, acting as producer, engineer and A\u0026amp;R and focussed on developing new solo artists. The most successful of these was Doug Carn, who released four albums featuring his wife, Jean Carn, as vocalist. She later changed her name to Jean Carne and became a successful soul singer signed to Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSinger Kellee Patterson gained notice as the first black Miss Indiana in 1971, before recording ‘Maiden Voyage’, her debut album for the label. Keyboardist Chester Thompson would go on to join Tower of Power and later Santana. The Awakening featured top veteran musicians from Chicago - the only Chicago group signed to the label. Drummer and percussionist Arlington Davis Jr, bassist Reggie Willis, flautist and tenor saxophonist Richard (Ari) Brown and trumpeter Frank Gordon were all members of the Association for The Advancement of Creative Musicians. Trombonist Steve Galloway and Ken Chaney were part of Philip Cohran and The Artistic Ensemble. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack Jazz Records released 20 or so superlative albums in a four-year period, all successfully blending spiritual jazz, funk and soul jazz. This album brings together some of the finest music released by the label in its short four-year history, closing its doors finally in 1975.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklisting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1.The Awakening - Mode For D.D.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2. Doug Carn - Higher Ground\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3. Calvin Keys - Aunt Lovely\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4. Roland Haynes – Eglise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5. The Awakening – Slinky\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6. Walter Bishop, Jr. – Coral Keys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7. Rudolph Johnson – Diswa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8. Henry Franklin – Blue Lights\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9. Kellee Patterson – Maiden Voyage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10. Chester Thompson –        Powerhouse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e11. The Awakening – March On\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12. Walter Bishop, Jr. – Soul Village\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e13. Rudolph Johnson – The Highest Pleasure\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soul Jazz Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56577798111612,"sku":"5026328005928","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/9763\/5678\/files\/Black_Jazz_Mock_Up_b116c59f-f828-4cb5-b551-a784f453e987.webp?v=1775134165","url":"https:\/\/offthebeatentracks.co.uk\/products\/various-soul-jazz-records-presents-black-jazz-records-the-best-of-black-jazz-records-new-2lp","provider":"Off The Beaten Tracks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}