MARTIN FREEMAN and EDDIE PILLER present JAZZ ON THE CORNER TWO

The concept is simple: an album packed full of jazz gems which they hope are slightly off the beaten track. This year we have hidden gems from Nina Simone and Nicola Conte, classics from Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers and The MJQ, whilst the new British jazz generation is represented by Emma Emma-Jean Thackray. Running the gamut from hard bop, to progressive fusion via Latin beats, it’s an exhilarating listen from start to finish.

Intrinsically united by a love of music, no more so than an oeuvre that has enthralled both from an early age, be it music their parents may have passed on to discovering the wonders of crate digging as they entered their formative years  - Jazz On The Corner Two meanders  through  those times from the old to the new and back again via a diverse selection of tracks.

As Freeman proffers in the album’s sleeve notes, “…going through my records again for things that haven’t appeared on loads of comps (as far as I know of anyway) is a fine excuse to do my favourite thing and pretend it’s work.” Meanwhile Piller alludes to his youth and younger self detailing, “From the moment I first heard Gilles Peterson on pirate radio back in the mid-eighties I fully embraced the underground London Jazz scene. It took me back to my childhood, accompanying my dad to jazz pubs like the Cauliflower in Ilford. Later, reminiscing of DJ’s whilst frequenting the likes of Upstairs At Ronnie’s and other word-of-mouth Soho jazz spots.

 Even prior to setting up Acid Jazz Records some thirty years back, Eddie Piller was championing new artists, whether spinning tracks in clubs, mentoring fledgling acts or A&Ring he has continued to forge forward and ever present the forefront of the UK soul jazz scene. It’s that ongoing movement that first brought the pair together whilst appearing on a radio show and despite busy itineraries have both mined their collections to present a concise and varied compilation.

Double LP Tracklisting

Side A
1. Stanley Turrentine – The Magilla
2. Nina Simone – I’m Gonna Leave You
3. The Jazz Crusaders – Tough Talk
4. Gene Ammons – Jungle Strut
5. George Benson – Shape Of Things To Come

Side B
1. Nicola Conte – Caravan
2. Duke Pearson – Gira, Girou (Round and Round)
3. Chet Baker – Do It The Hard Way
4. The Modern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
5. Lorez Alexandria – Nature Boy

Side C
1. Emanuel K Rahim & The Kaliqs – Al Amin
2. Roberta Flack – Compared To What
3. Horace Silver – Tranquilizer Suite Part : Perservance and Eudurance
4. Emma-Jean Thackray – Ley Lines
5. The Lyman Woodard Organisation – Creative Musicians

Side D
1. Charles Earland – Leaving This Planet
2. Brain Auger Oblivion Express – Freedom Jazz Dance
3. Johnny Mercer – That Old Black Magic
4. Roy Ayers – A Tear To A Smile
5. Lonnie Liston Smith – Summer Days

Double CD Tracklisting

Martin’s Picks
1. Stanley Turrentine – The Magilla
2. Nina Simone – I’m Gonna Leave You
3. The Jazz Crusaders – Tough Talk
4. Roberta Flack – Compared To What
5. Duke Pearson – Gira, Girou (Round and Round)
6. Lonnie Liston Smith – Summer Days
7. Roy Ayers – A Tear To A Smile
8. Les McCann – Us
9. Johnny Mercer – That Old Black Magic
10. The Modern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
11. Horace Silver – Tranquilizer Suite Part : Perservance and Eudurance
12. Chico Hamilton – Conquistadores

Eddie’s Choices

1. Emanuel K Rahim & The Kaliqs – Al Amin
2. Brain Auger Oblivion Express – Freedom Jazz Dance
3. Gene Ammons – Jungle Strut
4. George Benson – Shape Of Things To Come
5. Charles Earland – Leaving This Planet
6. Emma-Jean Thackray – Ley Lines
7. Nicola Conte – Caravan
8. Lorez Alexandria – Nature Boy
9. Chet Baker – Do It The Hard Way
10. The Lyman Woodard Organisation – Creative Musicians
11. The Bukky Leo Quintet – Rejoice In Righteousness
12. Patrice Rushen - Haw Right Now

https://youtu.be/V3INjd9ppvE