Oscar Brown Jr - Sin and Soul

This is Oscar's first album ( though he did contribute the lyrics to the call for civil rights We Insist by Max Roach the previous year ) and was considered a jazz classic as evinced by the sleeve note quotes by , among others , Nina Simone. The record company seem to have invested in the next album Between Heaven and Hell produced by Quincy Jones but then lost interest in Oscar or maybe didnt know whether to promote him to the hip jazz crowd or the middle of the road crooner set, Whatever the reason he never became the star he should have been but remained working throughout his long life in a variety of creative ventures and the civil rights movement.

Oscar Brown Jr obituary in the Guardian
Oscar Brown Jr wikipedia
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St Patricks weekend

Sorry we had no album of the week session this week as we had a big exhibition and talk inworld by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick   and all the music was live

Amy Winehouse Frank

Amys first album a bit rough round the edges but an insight into the massive talent that burned out too quickly

amy winehouse wikipedia

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John Martyn Solid Air

This is John's 5th album ( released in 1973 ) but in my opinion the first that he truly found his voice. The title track is an ode to Martyn's friend Nick Drake who sadly didnt heed the warning and died of an overdose 18 months after its release. The backbone of the album is Danny Thompsons double bass - the perfect accompaniment to John's fine finger picking and smoky voice which he slurs in the manner of a junkie jazz sax solo. Every track is a classic and everyone should own a copy for smoky, drunken nights.

john martyn wikipedia

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