Soul Jazz

Jazz music community with review and forums

Soul jazz is a subset of the hard bop genre and carries the hard bop tendency towards RnB and blues just a bit further. It was the original intention of JMA to list the soul jazz artists in hard bop, but the line was drawn at the bluesy B3 organ players such as Groove Holmes and Jack McDuff. Put simply, soul jazz is instrumental RnB or blues with a swing or funk beat topped with virtuoso jazz solos. You can also find soul jazz artists on JMA in the hard bop, funk jazz, and acid jazz genres.

soul jazz top albums

Showing only albums and live's | Based on members ratings & JMA custom algorithm | 24 hours caching

STANLEY TURRENTINE Blue Hour Album Cover Blue Hour
STANLEY TURRENTINE
4.89 | 3 ratings
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LES MCCANN Les McCann & Eddie Harris : Swiss Movement Album Cover Les McCann & Eddie Harris : Swiss Movement
LES MCCANN
4.66 | 8 ratings
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EDDIE HARRIS Excursions Album Cover Excursions
EDDIE HARRIS
4.73 | 4 ratings
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JOHN PATTON Got a Good Thing Goin' Album Cover Got a Good Thing Goin'
JOHN PATTON
4.69 | 4 ratings
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JIMMY SMITH Got My Mojo Workin' Album Cover Got My Mojo Workin'
JIMMY SMITH
4.60 | 6 ratings
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JIMMY SMITH Root Down Album Cover Root Down
JIMMY SMITH
4.48 | 11 ratings
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JOHN SCOFIELD Groove Elation! Album Cover Groove Elation!
JOHN SCOFIELD
4.50 | 6 ratings
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CANNONBALL ADDERLEY Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! (aka V.I.P.-Jazz 3) Album Cover Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! (aka V.I.P.-Jazz 3)
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY
4.40 | 12 ratings
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JOHN SCOFIELD Hand Jive Album Cover Hand Jive
JOHN SCOFIELD
4.54 | 3 ratings
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REUBEN WILSON Blue Mode (aka Organ Talk) Album Cover Blue Mode (aka Organ Talk)
REUBEN WILSON
4.50 | 3 ratings
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HERBIE MANN Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty Album Cover Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty
HERBIE MANN
4.50 | 3 ratings
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REUBEN WILSON Love Bug Album Cover Love Bug
REUBEN WILSON
4.50 | 2 ratings
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This list is in progress since the site is new. We invite all logged in members to use the "quick rating" widget (stars bellow album covers) or post full reviews to increase the weight of your rating in the global average value (see FAQ for more details). Enjoy JMA!

soul jazz online videos

Get Ready
Get Ready
NIGHT CRAWLERS
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On the way to be free (feat. Dee Alexander)
On the way to be free (feat. Dee Alexander)
CHICAGO SOUL JAZZ COLLECTIVE
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Paranoid
Paranoid
JAZZ SABBATH
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soul jazz New Releases

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Get Ready
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NIGHT CRAWLERS
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Prime
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DAVE STRYKER
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Are We There Yet
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ED CHERRY
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soul jazz Music Reviews

ART BLAKEY Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers : Soul Finger

Album · 1965 · Soul Jazz
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Mssr_Renard
A curious album, as it features both Hubbard and Morgan on trumpet. One would expect a lot of fireworks, but instead it's a rather tame album. Does that make it a bad album? No, not in my opinion. This one was released by Limelight and not Blue Note, and because of that it is a rather obscure release. In that sense that I did not even know of its existence.

There are some pleasant suprises on this record like the soprano saxophone of Lucky Thompson on the third track, wich is a played as a quartet (Blakey, Hicks, Sproles and Thompson). It is also a composition by Thompson. So it's kind of at odds on this album, but nevertheless a wonderful song.

Other important things about this album is, that is the last one to feauture Lee Morgan and it is also Gary Bartz's recording debut.

There are a lot of releases after this record, but the recordings are of earlier dates. This album is more of a transitionairy album, where Blakey and the Jazz Messengers make kind of bland albums (at least, the ones I heard of), until the Marsalis-brothers joined the band. Then the fire is back.

Soul Finger sure is a record to search for, Hubbard and Morgan together on trumpet is just a treat. Just listen to the groovy Freedom Monday to get a taste.

CURTIS FULLER Smokin'

Album · 1972 · Soul Jazz
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Mssr_Renard
Although the line-up to this album is a great line-up (featuring hardboppers Cedar Walton and Billy Higgins amongst others), the aim of this album is mainstream funk.

It is a pleasant album, with some great solos, some nice electric guitar by Ted Dunbar, some funky and swinging grooves by Higgins, but it lacks a certain something.

Fuller tries hard here to make a mainstream-record, even the label is called mainstream, and the compositions in fact are not that bad, but somehow I don't like the overuse of the electric piano (courtesy of Cedar Walton) on this album. Also the electric bass is used on one to many songs.

Especially the first song drags on for too long, without really going anywhere. Fuller had made so much better records, as a leader or with the Jazztet / Jazz Messengers.

I do like the solos: trumpet by Bill Hardman, trombone, saxes by Jimmy Heath and guitar by Ted Dunbar. The songs on the B-side are more hardboppish, but are mostly ruined by the electric bass. The purist jazz-song is Stella By Starlight with acoustic bass and acoustic piano, and some magnificent soloing by Fuller. A real treat!

As a jazzfunk album it is okay, somewhat reminescent of what Nucleus was putting out these days. But there are already so many of these jazzrock/softfunk albums, that it almost sounds too easylistening for me.

DAVID MURRAY David Murray Brave New World Trio With Brad Jones And Hamid Drake : Seriana Promethea

Album · 2022 · Soul Jazz
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snobb
Tenor saxophonist, David Murray, who was a significant figure on the American avant-garde jazz scene in the 80s, is still active today. Always known by his accessible and melodic take on avant-garde jazz, over the decades he lost a big part of his fire, but not his tunefulness

On Murray newest release,"Seriana Prometea", the jazz veteran presents his new all-star acoustic trio with excellent drummer Hamid Drake and bassist Brad Jones. Seven of the eight pieces on the record are Murray's own (the exception is Sly & The Family Stone’s hit “If You Want Me to Stay”). The album's compositions cover a wide specter of genres, from funky r'n'b ("Seriana Promethea" and "If You Want Me To Stay"), to Latin ("Anita Et Annita" and "Switchin' In The Kitchen"), to a rock-song of sorts ("Necktar"), to Oriental ("Metouka Sheli (Ballad For Adrienne)") and a jazzy pop-song ("Rainbows For Julia").

Perfect rhythm section adds a lot of textures that makes the music sound accessible, but far from simple. True, these songs could be written and recorded in the 80s, but it's not necessarily a bad sing.

GRANT GEISSMAN Blooz

Album · 2022 · Soul Jazz
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js
Grant Geissman has recorded a lot of albums during his busy career, but never one quite like “Blooz”. Geissman has always been a fan of the blues but this is the first album he has recorded featuring the genre. Its not really a ‘pure blues’ album, or as Grants says himself, “ The album is called “Blooz” because its my take on the blues. It’s a fairly wide interpretation, and not always traditional.” So with that in mind, its no surprise we find many variations on the blues featuring influences from jazz, Latin rock, rockabilly, rhumba, boogaloo and more. A rotating cast of musicians are featured here, and many you have probably heard of before such as Tom Scott, Randy Brecker, Robben Ford and Joe Bonamassa. In many ways this may seem like a guitar player’s album, with Grant listing which vintage guitar he is using on each track, but horns and keyboards, especially the B3, all add their own colors.

“Carlos En Siete” is Latin rock in 7/4 time and is Grant’s tribute to Carlos Santana. Geissman’s solo on this one reflects the influence Carlos has on Grant’s playing. “Rage Cage is a rock boogie in the style of ZZ Top, with Jim Cox’s B3 solo taking the jam into soul jazz territory. “Preach” and “Fat Back” sound like classic 60’s Blue Note with Randy Brecker adding his horn to the former, and Tom Scott adding his saxophone to the latter. “One G and Two J’s” has a Bo Diddley beat and features a three guitar lineup when Grant is joined by Josh Smith and Joe Bonamassa. “Blooz” is a fun ride, liven up your nest outdoor BBQ with some contemporary takes on the blues and soul jazz.

BRENT LAIDLER Wouldn’t Be Here Without You

Album · 2022 · Soul Jazz
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js
Looking for some jazz that’s all about the groove and plenty of soul to go around, Brent Laidler’s “Wouldn’t be Here without You” may be the fix you are looking for. What we have here are ten original tunes that vary from Latin jazz to hard bop and blues, with all of them having that intangible quality that some call ‘catchy’. They are easy songs to latch on to and most of these tracks would probably appeal to jazz fans, as well as those that just dig that ‘good times music’ (Lou Reed’s famous wordage) party vibe. Brent is a long time jazz and blues guitarist who is not better known because he doesn’t have much time for touring, nor does he live in prominent jazz venue city. Instead, much of his time in Indiana is taken with soundtrack composing, arranging, instrument repair and other musical endeavors. Brent lists Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessell and Pat Martino as his influences and reflecting on those bluesy boppers will probably give you a clearer picture of his playing than any attempt I could make to break it down for you.

Bossas and sambas make up a big part of this album, but even those Latin tracks carry a strong B3 driven soul jazz flavor, The organist is Jamie Newman, who should be appreciated for how he flavors his organ sound depending on the track. For the Latin numbers he leans toward that dry lean sound favored by the Brazilian organists, on the hard boppers he goes for that Jimmy Smith percussion, and on the blues tracks he is liable to lay on that soulful vibrato and drenching Leslie. The rest of the band is Mark Russell on trumpet, Ned Boyd on sax, Scott Pazera on bass and Richard ‘Sleepy’ Floyd on drums. None of these guys are big names, but all are capable soloists who go for that in the pocket rhythmic punch instead of excessive flamboyance.

All of the tracks on here are great and could easily find a place on contemporary jazz radio. One top number is “Sunday Mood”, with its noire crime jazz sound featuring Ned on the bari sax. Another top number is “City by the Bay”, with its mysterious mood that is based on the image of a midnight dessert caravan finally spotting its distant destination.

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Artists with Soul Jazz release(s)

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
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