Here is a great Japanese swing compilation imported from West Germany in 1989. It holds 10 tracks from artists that were on the Three Blind Mice record label. These artists include Isao Suzuki Quartet, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio, Tatsuya Takahashi & Tokyo Union, Ayako Hosokawa, Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Hero, Masaru Imada & George Mraz, and Shoji Yokouchi Trio.
Here is a great jazz cassette from Dan McCollim and The Jazz Conspiracy. It was released on Mad Mac Music in 1987. This TAPE ONLY gem has 7 tracks. This great jazz band was from Spokane, Washington.
These guys are a great dixieland jazz band from Victoria, B.C., Canada. They got together in 1991, and have been doing shows in the U.S. and Canada for years. They released this tape only gem back in 1992. 42nd St. has 11 tracks total. These guys are still together today, making good music, and touring!
Daniel Kane was a street musician in San Francisco, he played his Chapman Stick instrument down by the Fisherman`s Wharf. He sold this cd there too. If you read reviews all over the internet, you will see that people rave about his music, and love it. He released this 9 track jazz gem in 1992.
Next is a cool TAPE ONLY recording from the Washington State University Jazz Big Band from 1990. It features 6 tracks. This was the third tape they made, I believe. I`m not sure if the 1990 band put out all three tapes or if the 1988, and 1989 bands put one out, and the 1990 band put the third out, which would be this!
Here is an awesome debut from the Portland, Oregon vocalist Barbara Lusch. After a stint with popular Latin band "Pepe & The Bottle Blondes", she went solo in 2002. She released her debut album in 2004, but first she made this demo cd. It has 7 tracks including a stunning cover of Rosemary Clooney's "C'mon A My House", Nat King Cole`s "Nature Boy", a great rendition of The Doors song "Light My Fire", as well as 4 other tunes ("Everynight", "I`d Be Surprisingly Good For You", "Alright, Okay, You Win", and "I Love The Way You`re Breaking My Heart") all of which are done with her seductively gorgeous voice.
Here is the Heritage Jazz edition of Lainie Kazan`s "Body & Soul".(It was originally released in 1995, but the Heritage version came a year later in 1996. Kazan is also an actress who has been in all kinds of movies and television, but let's focus on her music! She released a total of 8 full length albums between 1966 and 1988. This was her second to the last release. She is still acting, but hasn't released an album since 1988's "In The Groove"
Here is a rare one from Marge Starks, a great jazz pianist from Seattle, Washington. I am not sure of the exact year of it's release, but I know it was after 1992. It features 24 tracks. Marge was very involved in helping AIDS victims. All of the proceeds of this cd were given to AIDS charities. I am not sure if she still plays or not, and can only find one other release from her, titled "Live At Thimpers" (a notorious gay friendly bar in Seattle).
Here is a must have for any jazz music collector. This is a rare Japanese import cd from the "Best Sellers Of Jazz" collection.
Formed in 1983 by Arizona State University students, who were interested in early New Orleans jazz, still have the same core members over 25 years later! They have performed in all fifty states, seven European countries, Canada and Mexico. They have earned national and international acclaim, have made National radio and television appearances, have appeared at dozens of European and U.S. jazz festivals, and do regular performances at California's Disneyland.
I am unsure of the date of this tape`s release, but I know it was after 1984, and I know that it was never released on any other format.
Here is a great cd from the legendary Japanese jazz pianist Yosuke Yamashita, and his partners Cecil McBee and Pheeroan Aklaff, who make up a killer trio. These three got together in the 80`s and formed the "New York Trio". This was in a lot of folks opinion`s their best work. Yosuke first played professionally in 1959.
Here`s a great cd from the dutch group "The Deep River Quartet". They play everything from gospel, swing, jazz, and more. This one was released in 1985.
Houston Jazz group, founded by Bob Chadwick. The members always change, except for Bob. They played at Rudyards every Thursday. Not sure if they still do or not. At the time of this recording Harry Sheppard was playing with them. Nick Cooper decided to record when he saw this. Harry is a jazz veteran, and has played with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Doc Severenson.
Stephen Lamson, Dennis Hancock, and Douglas Moore teamed up to make this great cd. These guys used their talent to help the March of Dimes, and other children`s charities. Great, positive music. The artwork has written descriptions of what each song was written about. Proceeds from this cd were originally donated to The March of Dimes.
Cool little single, I believe it to be a promo, although it doesn`t say that anywhere on the disc or artwork.
Here is an awesome acoustic jazz cd from "Catwalk". The band features world famous jazz/blues guitarist John Miller and his friends Paul Elliot on the violin and Tom Moran on the Mandolin.
Mr. Clean was a funk / jazz band that dated all the way back to at least 1966. Headed by Ollie McClay, "Mr. Clean" has had a number of different members, but in 1992 at the time of this release, the band consisted of Ollie McClay, Johnny McClain, Albert (Terminator) Hobson, Jerome Biship, and Gordon Botler. At this time the band was based in Spokane, Washington. I am unable to find much information on "Mr. Clean", what I do know is that their music is pretty cool. They are kind of funk, kind of jazz.
Here is a very rare cd from Ray Willis. Released in 1994 on Centaur Productions, this is more of a demo. His debut surfaced in 2000, called "Sunrise Dancer" it features a couple of the songs on this "demo", but the rest of them you can only find here!
Awesome fusion Jazz from HD Fusion. Still playing the Pacific Northwest!
ULTRA RARE!
