We are extremely excited to be the pressing plant making the Black Jazz vinyl reissues collection coming from Real Gone Music!

The legendary Black Jazz Records was founded in 1969 in Oakland, California by pianist Gene Russell and percussionist Dick Schory and released its first records in summer of 1971.  From then on, it became a home for many emerging African-American jazz performers across a range of styles, including free jazz, soul-jazz, funk, fusion, and spiritual jazz.  Though it was only around for four years, Black Jazz Records issued a total of twenty albums, bringing Doug Carn, Cleaveland Eaton, Kellee Patterson, and many more to a new audience. 

Gene Russell’s New Direction was the first Black Jazz release and it’s set for release on RSD Drop Day 1 on August 29.  Released exclusively for the event, the album will be pressed on clear vinyl with heavy black swirls and presented in a replica of the original album art.  Here, pianist Russell is joined by bassist Henry “The Skipper” Franklin and drummer Steve Clover on the majority of the tracks, with Larry Gates taking over on bass on the opening and closing tracks.  While it’s more straight-ahead than the Black Jazz releases to come, there are hints of soul jazz and modal jazz that would inform the label’s trajectory.

Others are imminently available, with more planned reissues down the line…