Favorite Albums
Here is a selection of albums from our precious vinyl collection that we assembled in more than fifty years. Just click on the album covers to get the musicians, track lists, and short reviews.
Billy Cobham – Crosswinds
Billy Cobham - Crosswinds (Atlantic/1974) The second album of Billy Cobham with his exquisite compositions is a jazz funk and jazz fusion masterpiece, a must have for every music collector. All pieces are arranged by Cobham, and the fantastic studio performance of the...
David Matthews – Super Funky Sax
David Matthews - Super Funky Sax ( GNP Crescendo / 1984 ) Here comes the former James Brown arranger David Matthews with a jazz funk masterpiece that hits the heart of SomehowJazz' music taste and makes it to the top 10 of our favorite album collection. All pieces are...
Donald Byrd – Street Lady
Donald Byrd - Street Lady ( Blue Note / 1973 ) Out of once in a life time collaboration of Donald Byrd and Larry Mizell, emerged this unique jazz, funk and groove experience that only gets better with time. All the pieces are original compositions, of which "Lansana's...
Flora Purim – Stories To Tell
Flora Purim - Stories To Tell ( Milestone / 1974 ) In her second solo album, Flora Purim perfects her unique style, mixing Brazilian music and jazz, together with great musicians like George Duke and Airto Moreira. "Insensatez" (How Insensitive) is probably the best...
Horace Silver – Sterling Silver
Horace Silver - Sterling Silver ( Blue Note / 1979 ) A collectors album. 1979 Blue Note LP features previously unissued tunes of Horace Silver except for Señor Blues (Vocal version and Alternate take) and Tippin. Trio version of "Que Pasa" was recorded on 1963, and...
Chick Corea – Secret Agent
Chick Corea - Secret Agent ( Polydor / 1978 ) With three studio recordings and two live albums, 1978 was a record breaking year for Chick Corea in terms of productivity. Secret Agent is one of these studio albums with a rich orchestration featuring a horn section and...
Return To Forever – Romantic Warrior
Return To Forever - Romantic Warrior ( Columbia / 1976 ) The best-selling 6 th album of the progressive jazz band, that features rather an avant-garde style. The musical inspiration from the medieval themes is also marked by the unforgettable album cover. Lenny...
Blood, Sweat & Tears – II
Blood, Sweat & Tears ( Columbia / 1968 ) The amazing voice of David Clayton-Thomas, a fantastic brass arrangement, jazz meets rock, a milestone in music history. "Spinning Wheel", "You Made Me So Very Happy" and especially "God Bless the Child" remain...
Yellowjackets – Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets - Yellowjackets ( Warner Bros. / 1981 ) This fantastic debut album of the jazz fusion band was first totally underrated, only to be rediscovered after their second release. Robben Ford's great guitar solo on "Rush Hour" remains unbeatable. Also, "Matinee...
Carla Bley – Heavy Heart
Carla Bley - Heavy Heart ( Watt-ECM / 1984 ) This great contemporary jazz record from 1984, still sounding fresh after so many years, is our favorite Carla Bley album, melodic and light and yet carrying a dark undertone. A jazz orchestration masterpiece as well, all...
Pat Metheny Group – Offramp
Pat Metheny Group - Offramp ( ECM / 1982 ) An exceptional musician who fits no category but his own, and the album that marked it for good. Offramp is the first studio recording on which Pat Metheny used the guitar synthesizer together with synclavier, and with the...
Jeff Lorber Fusion – Wizard Island
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Wizard Island (Arista / 1980) This innovative and intensive album has a special place in our record collection as a milestone in the jazz fusion genre. We were surprised by its uniqueness when it first came out. Our favorite pieces are "City" and...
Miles Davis – In a Silent Way
Miles Davis - In a Silent Way ( Columbia / 1969 ) "Miles Davis is the most written about artist in the field of jazz, and I hate the word " jazz," I prefer using the phrase " field of music. "...His recent albums are pointed to new directions for all who are...
Rare Silk – New Weave
Rare Silk - New Weave ( Polydor / 1983 ) The Grammy nominated debut album of Rare Silk, turned out to be the best vocal jazz record of the eighties, still a pleasure to listen. With high-class musicians including Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker and Ronnie Cuber backing...
Weather Report – Mysterious Traveller
Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller (Columbia / 1974) This great album made Weather Report a power band and was named 'Record of the year' in the 'Down Beat readers poll' in 1974. With Alphonso Johnson on bass (except "American Tango" with Miroslav Vitous) and...
The Mysterious Flying Orchestra – The Mysterious Flying Orchestra
The Mysterious Flying Orchestra – The Mysterious Flying Orchestra (Victor RCA - 1977) John Coltrane's legendary producer Bob Thiele on work with great studio session musicians producing a feast of jazz funk. "A Dream Deferred" and "Shadows" are our favorite songs from...
Herbie Hancock – Thrust
Thrust - Herbie Hancock ( Columbia / 1974 ) The follow-up album to Head Hunters turned out to be another masterpiece and became just as successful as it's predecessor. The relaxed interplay goes on with almost the same lineup. Only Mike Clark replaces Harvey Mason on...
Alphonse Mouzon – By All Means
By All Means ( 1981 / PA USA ) One of the corner stones of our record collection. A real jazz funk gem that we never stopped listening since 1981 Featuring the cream of 70's musicians like Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour and Jerry Hey, this intense album is a must have...
Weather Report – Tale Spinnin’
Weather Report - Tale Spinnin' ( Columbia / 1975 ) Alphonso Johnson and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler joined Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter in this LP in 1975. Alphonso was already in the group and recorded the previous LP "Mysterious Traveller" but "Tale Spinnin" was the...
Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow
Jeff Beck - Blow By Blow (Epic / 1975) This all instrumental album, the first under his name, is the trademark of Jeff Beck's unmistakable style. The album is based on his imaginative, blues based soloing, balanced and supported by a powerful ensemble including Max...
Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life (Tamla Motown / 1976) Stevie Wonder's legendary "Songs In The Key Of Life"... What can you write about one of the greatest recordings of the 20th century? That it's a double album of which every song is a masterpiece? That it's...
Herbie Hancock – Man-Child
Herbie Hancock - Man-Child (Columbia / 1975) One of the best jazz funk, fusion records of all times, "Man-Child" is the third album of the powerful Hancock trilogy that started with "Head Hunters" in 1973. With the addition of a horn section and wah-wah guitar to the...
Deodato – Prelude
Prelude ( CTI / 1972 ) With this 1972 album, Deodato separates himself from his Brazilian background and sets his trademark artistic arrangement style, combining jazz and groove with symphonic orchestration. " Prelude " is the album that made him an internationally...
Alphonso Johnson – Moonshadows
Alphonso Johnson - Moonshadows ( Epic / 1976 ) "Moonshadows" This studio album released in 1976, is an important building stone of progressive funk music. Full of fresh and innovative ideas, it truly reflects the artistic spirit of the seventies. We love the lively...
Stanley Clarke – Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke (Nemperor / 1974) A musical experiment blending jazz with rock elements, has become a showcase of instrumental mastery that set the standards of fusion, before the word was ever used as a musical term. Filled with extensive and free...
The Crusaders – Crusaders 1
The Crusaders - Crusaders 1 ( Blue Thumb / 1972 ) This album was already a soul jazz treasure when it came out in 1972. A rare recording of which all pieces are favorites, and we rotate almost all of them in Somehowjazz. It's a kind of debut album after they ended...
Eddie Henderson – Sunburst
Eddie Henderson - Sunburst ( Blue Note / 1975 ) A sunburst of fusion tightly played by geniuses at the peak of their career, featuring a harder, spacier music with free, emotional soloing based on intelligent structures. Eddie Henderson, Bennie Maupin and Julian...
Jaco Pastorius – Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius ( Epic/Legacy / 1976 ) The self-titled first solo album of Jaco Pastorius was produced by Bobby Colomby, who wanted to introduce a young talent. With the collaboration of a lineup of extraordinary musicians and new compositions, it...
George Duke – Feel
George Duke - Feel ( Basf MPS / 1974 ) This is the beginning of George Duke's unique style, the album in which he started "experimenting" as he calls it himself, with synthesizer orchestration. While playing with the huge capacity of electronic keyboards and...
Dizzy Gillespie – New Faces
New Faces ( GRP / 1985 ) Young musicians by his side, a fresh take on some old, well known originals, two new groovy pieces, and Dizzy Gillespie re-emerges from the old 'bop legend' category, capturing a jazz funk loving younger generation. Gillespie adds his...