Soul connoisseurs and serious collectors know that the world’s coolest record store is Chicago’s DUSTY GROOVE RECORDS. Those connoisseurs and collectors also know that the store has its own enigmatic reissue label bearing the same names the shop. The label has recently gone into a loose partnership with REAL GONE MUSIC and over the last few months there have been some mighty fine releases on the label.
Jazz collectors will be particularly interested in a trio of one time hard to find albums. First up there’s BOBBI HUMPHREY’S ‘Dig This’. The album was originally issued on Blue Note in 1972 before the flautist hooked up with the MIZELL BROTHERS. Another flautist, JEREMY STEIG, is featured on the second Dusty Groove/Real Gone jazz reissue. The album is ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ and was STEIG’S only BLUE NOTE release. It first came out in 1979 and has never before been on CD. GENE HARRIS is spotlighted on the third new release. His set is a “twofer” – combining his 1971 LP with THE THREE SOUNDS and his ’72 album without them – imaginatively titled ‘Gene Harris Of The Three Sounds’. Once again Blue Note was the original label.
The best recent soul set is a great retrospective on the wonderful BARBARA LEWIS. The double CD collects together all her Atlantic singles and is a magnificent testament to a unique and often overlooked talent. The sublime ‘Hello Stranger’ (with THE DELLS) is in there of course along with all her other great sides. This release is on the main Real Gone label in collaboration with Rhino.
Find out more @ www.dustygroove.com and watch for reviews here @ SJF very soon.
