Jazz /
Singles (The Definitive 45s Collection Vol.2: 1962-1991)
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Following 2016's definitive collection of singles released by Sun Ra from across his illustrious career, Strut present the second volume of the vinyl edition on 3LP format which focus on Ra's later 1962-1991 period.
Released sporadically during the three decades and primarily on the Saturn label, the 45s offer one-off missives from Ra's prolific cosmic journey, tracing the development of his forwardthinking 'Space-Bop' and his unique take on jazz and blues tr…
Lanquidity
Strut presents the definitive official edition of Sun Ra’s classic ‘Lanquidity’ album, originally released on Philly Jazz in 1978.
In The Orbit Of Ra
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Sun Ra said he came from Saturn, because white America treated him like an alien, like a creature from outer space, so he became one, an anarcho-emperor of the fantastic, who made it to the moon before America or Russia, because the moon was nowhere near as far out as he could really go.“ – Paul Morley Strut and Art Yard join forces for a special release to mark what would have been Sun Ra’s 100th birthday with ’In The Orbit Of Ra’, a new collection presented…
Mulatu of Ethiopia
Strut present the first official reissue of a landmark album in the field of African music, Mulatu Astatke’s ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ from 1972.
Nigeria 70 (Lagos Jump: Original Heavyweight Afrobeat, Highlife & Afro-Funk)
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Back in 2001, the first edition of Nigeria 70 on Strut broke the mould for African compilations, featuring a wide spectrum of musical styles from across the 1970's, and an audio documentary tracing the music's history.
For 2008, Strut delve deeper into the Lagos underground for another box of essential West African dynamite. From the heavy jazz of Peter King to Bola Johnson's scratchy afro funk and the rolling grooves of Juju legend Sir Shina Peters, this is …
Nigeria 70 (No Wahala: Highlife, Afro-Funk & Juju 1973-1987)
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* New volume by Strut in their pioneering ‘Nigeria 70’ series., here bringing together rare highlife, Afro-funk and juju from the ‘70s and early ‘80s - Compiled by collector and DJ Duncan Brooker..
The compilation returns to a fertile heyday in Nigerian music when established styles like highlife and juju became infused with elements of Western jazz, soul and funk and musicians brought a proud new message post-independence. Brooker places the spotlight particul…
Nigeria 70 (The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos)
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Strut present a definitive vinyl edition of the groundbreaking compilation 'Nigeria 70'. Originally released in 2001, the collection set the benchmark for a new generation of archive labels and releases mining the vaults for rare Afro funk and Afro jazz fusions and helped to paint the wider picture of the 1970s Lagos scene beyond Fela Kuti's catalogue for a legion of soul, funk and dance music enthusiasts. Check!
Recorded Yesterday And On Sale Today
A pair of contemporary music giants re-release a long-lost 2003 live recording, previously available only as a CD-R.
Earscratcher
This newfound quartet was conceived in 2019, as a way to celebrate Austrian pianist Elisabeth Harnik’s 50th birthday in 2020. For the occasion, Harnik called on several longtime collaborators from Chicago with whom she’d connected at the Umbrella Music Festival back in 2008, on her first visit to the city. Since that time, she’s continued to stoke the fires she started there, not only in various collaborations with these three musicians, but also with Chicago legends like Ken Vandermark, Michael…
Earth Passage - Density
Super Tip! An outstanding yet obscure 1981 release by two Art Ensemble of Chicago members, multi reeds player Joseph Jarman and drummer Don Moye along with legendary bassist Rafael Garret (mostly remembered for his presence on John Coltrane's masterpiece "Kulu se Mama") and young lion Craig Harris on trombone. Four great individuals digging deep between ancient African rituals and modern urban multidimensional grooves. A tribal ecstatic sound based on a multitude of instruments: reeds, bamboo fl…
Toverbal Sweet
Big Tip! *Limited edition of 500 copies.* Released on cultish London based label Mushroom in 1972, this album brought together the anarchic genius of saxophone player Lol Coxhill, with the pure magic of a dutch rhythm section: Pierre Curbois on the drums and keyboard player Jasper Van’t Hof. A clash of the titans as a matter of fact, with the more classical and impro sounding lines of Coxhill and the straight – almost jazz-rock – harmonies of the other two players. A fascinating record comparab…
I Know About The Life
*Great spiritual jazz album. Blue Vinyl* Much-needed reissue on vinyl for this classic Jazz album originally recorded in September 1975 at A & R Recording Studios in New York and released in 1977 on Baystate Japan. Charles Greenlee worked extensively throughout his career with Archie Shepp who also participated in the sessions for John Coltrane's A Love Supreme in late 1964. Late in the 1940s he converted to Islam, changing his name to Harneefan Majeed; he continued to use Charles Greenlee for p…
Ho Chi Moon
Tip! *Silkscreen printed cover. Limited edition of 200 copies. Totally sold out at source * Choking hazard: An extra heavy portion of greasy & salty vegetarian freedom music! Ho Chi Moon breaks free from all jazz tradition, including the free jazz tradition. Psychedelic, poetic, ass-kicking, soothing, painful, ecstatic & inconsolable. Tasty & nutritious. Too unhealthy for everyday consumption, yet perfect for special occasions of self-indulgence. Killer stuff!
Byrd In Paris (Volume 1)
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Trumpeter Donald Byrd spent a few months in France in 1958, and a Paris concert resulted in two LPs' worth of material. Byrd's quintet at the time included Bobby Jaspar (on tenor and flute), pianist Walter Davis, Jr., bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor. Byrd was just beginning to find his own sound in the late '50s and he is in excellent form on "Dear Old Stockholm," Sonny Rollins' "Paul's Pal," Jaspar's "Flute Blues," "Ray's Idea," and "The Blues W…
Parisian Thoroughfare (Byrd In Paris, Volume 2)
‘58 issue, the title carried by Jazz Hot magazine was: »Revelation at the Chat Qui Pêche. The spirit of jazz (which some thought was dying) is sparkling with life in the Donald Byrd Quintet.« And indeed, on its first appearance at the Cannes Festival in July (the Jazz Festival, not the other one), the Donald Byrd Quintet brought the house down. Its members were hardly the Who’s Who of jazz, however. People vaguely knew that the leader had replaced Kenny Dorham in the Jazz Messengers, that Doug W…
Jazz Sur Seine
A fantastic early recording from the great French tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen – best known as an artist who recorded famously in the soundtrack world of the French new wave, and with Art Blakey – but who's even more striking here on a rare small combo date from the 50s! The session's a monster – cut with rhythmic backing by Milt Jackson on piano (!?), Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – and two cuts feature additional percussion by Gana M'Bow, which gives the set a wonderful kick…
The Ronnell Bright Trio
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* One of the few albums ever cut as a leader by pianist Ronnell Bright – a player best known for his accompaniment behind famous vocalists, like Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson! This rare date was cut in Paris – at a time when Bright was visiting the city with Vaughan – and it's a stripped-down trio date with a nicely relaxed feel – one that has Bright really opening up on the keys, in ways you don't always hear on his material with singers. Other players in the…
Afternoon In Paris
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* 'It was in Paris that John Lewis co-led this 1956 date with Sacha Distel, a French guitarist who never became well-known in the U.S. but commanded a lot of respect in French jazz circles. The same can be said about the other French players employed on Afternoon in Paris -- neither tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen nor bassist Pierre Michelot were huge names in the U.S., although both were well-known in European jazz circles. With Lewis on piano, Distel on guitar…
Peace Treaty
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* “One of the first true moments of genius from saxophonist Nathan Davis – originally released in the mid 60s for the tiny SFP label – and a record that’s even rarer than his early classics for MPS! The sound here is similar to the MPS sides – a mixture of soul jazz and modal jazz – served up with a bit more freedoms than Davis might have gotten on the US scene, and featuring a lineup that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Jean-Louis Chautemps on baritone sax, Re…
Hoarded Dreams
*2022 stock* Graham Collier is one of the best known and most important British jazz composers and over a 40 year career, his list of compositions and commissions has grown to encompass ensembles around the world. He is well-known as an author and educator, having written seven books on jazz. Hoarded Dreams is a previously unreleased long-form composition heard here in a powerful live performance from 1983 by an international all-star band that includes Tomasz Stanko, Conny Bauer, Malcolm Griffi…