Monthly Archives – August 2008

Little Buck – Little Boy Blue / Everybody’s Love

New Orleans based label Seven B is definitely something of a mixed bag & can usually be categorised as 45s Eddie Bo was involved with & ones that he had no part of. Finding 45s on this label will either land you with unbearably cheesy country, slightly more tolerable piano instrumentals or some of the […]

Oliver Spinetto & Harry Francis – Zodiac 45

Here’s an interesting record from a bygone era. Not only were Auckland’s Zodiac Records one of the biggest local independent labels of the 50s & 60s, as an aspiring musician you could also use their facilities to cut your own record. This 45 was recorded on the 5th of October 1955 in immediately pre-rock & […]

Hal Singer / Jef Gilson: Soul of Africa

I’ve got myself lost in this LP more than once. Perhaps it’s a romantic thing but I do seem to conjure up a sense of sophistication when I listen to French jazz. It seems even the cover has a touch more panache than comparable releases.  Soul of Africa is a very listenable spiritual outing, which […]

Jef Gilson – A Gaveau

Featuring the Jef Gilson Big Band recorded at the Salle Gaveau concert hall (Hence the title) The track Modalite Pour Mimi is a swinging, piece that features some great blowing over a lovely rhythm. The whole band seem absorbed in this groove which sounds unmistakably French. There is also a vocal version of this on […]