Description
This collection brings together key recordings from Black Jazz Records, one of the most distinctive independent jazz labels of the early 1970s. Active between 1971 and 1975, the Oakland-based imprint released around twenty albums that fused spiritual jazz, funk and soul with a strong collective identity.
Founded by Gene Russell and Dick Schory, Black Jazz centred on a small group of artists, many of whom first came to prominence during this period. Russell acted as the label’s creative core, overseeing production, engineering and A&R, and prioritising original voices over commercial trends.
Featured artists include The Awakening, Doug Carn, Walter Bishop, Chester Thompson and Kellee Patterson, alongside key contributors such as Henry Franklin, Rudolph Johnson and Cleveland Eaton. Doug Carn emerged as the label’s most prolific figure, releasing four albums that featured vocalist Jean Carn, who later found wider success under the name Jean Carne. Kellee Patterson recorded her debut for the label, while Chester Thompson would go on to join Tower of Power and later Santana.
The Awakening brought together veteran musicians from Chicago’s AACM circle, reflecting the label’s wider connections within progressive jazz. Though its lifespan was brief, Black Jazz Records produced a remarkably consistent and influential catalogue. This album highlights some of the finest moments from that four-year run, capturing the spirit and ambition that defined the label.
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