The Best of Black Jazz Records 1971-76 2LP

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In Stock

An In Stock item is available to ship normally within 24 business hours.

Preorder

A Preorder is an item that has not yet been released. Typically the label will set a projected release date (that is subject to change). If a projected release date is known, we will include this in the description in red. Other Preorders are set to release 'TBA.' This means that release date is yet 'To Be Announced'. The Preorder can be released anywhere between weeks, months or years from its initial announcement.

Backordered

An Out Of Stock item is an item that we normally have available to ship but we are temporarily out of. We do not have a specific date when it will be coming.

Awaiting Repress

Awaiting repress titles are in the process of being repressed by the label. No ETA is available at this time.

Expected On

When an item is Out Of Stock and we have an estimated date when our stock should arrive, we list that date on our website in the part's description. It is not guaranteed.

Special Order

A Special Order item is an item that we do not stock but can order from the manufacturer. Typical order times are located within the product description.

Description

Coming May 22, 2026 pre-order your copy today!

Black Jazz Records Compilation Fully Remastered on Double LP!
Features The Awakening, Doug Carn, Calvin Keys, Walter Bishop, Chester Thompson & More!

This album brings together some of the finest music ever released on Black Jazz Records, which in its short four-year history, between 1971 and 1975, released over 20 superlative albums, all successfully blending spiritual jazz, funk and soul jazz of the highest calibre.

Similar to other independent jazz labels at the time, including Strata-East Records and Tribe Records, Black Jazz focused on a number of key artists, most of whom first established their career during this period, and all of whom are featured here.

Featuring The Awakening, Doug Carn, Walter Bishop, Chester Thompson, Kellee Patterson and more.

Black Jazz Records was founded in Oakland, California, by pianist Gene Russell and percussionist Dick Schory. The label released twenty albums between 1971 and 1975. Artists who recorded for Black Jazz Records included Cleveland Eaton (bassist for Ramsey Lewis), keyboardists Doug Carn and Chester Thompson, vocalist Kellee Patterson, saxophonist Rudolph Johnson, bassist Henry Franklin, and spiritual fusion group The Awakening. The label was distributed and financed by Ovation Records, based in Chicago. Schory founded Ovation in 1969, shortly after leaving RCA. Schory was a Grammy®-nominated percussionist who was also known for his development of the stereo recording techniques including Dynagroove and RCA Victor's Stereo Action. Schory also pioneered quadraphonic sound, and a number of Black Jazz Records were in quadraphonic and other formats such as ¼" tape and 8-track.

Gene Russell was the creative force behind the label, acting as producer, engineer and A&R and focused on developing new solo artists. Black Jazz Records released 20 or so superlative albums in a four-year period, all successfully blending spiritual jazz, funk and soul jazz. This album brings together some of the finest music released by the label in its short four-year history, closing its doors finally in 1975.

Originally released on Universal Sounds in 1996, now fully remastered and with new artwork.

Features

Fully Remastered
Double LP
New Artwork

Selections

The Awakening – Mode for D.D.
Doug Carn – Higher Ground
Calvin Keys – Aunt Lovey
Roland Haynes – Eglise
The Awakening – Slinky
Walter Bishop Jr. – Coral Keys
Rudolph Johnson – Diswa
Henry Franklin – Blue Lights
Kellee Patterson – Maiden Voyage
Chester Thompson – Power House
The Awakening – March On
Walter Bishop Jr. – Soul Village
Rudolph Johnson – The Highest Pleasure