Motor City Drum Ensemble Playlist: Guest Selector

Pharoah Sanders – Pharoah [India Navigation]
This has got to be one of my all-time favourite jazz records, I'm a huge Pharaoh Sanders nut. I have all of his albums and this one had been on my want list forever, but you just don't see it. The whole album is an epic journey but Harvest Time remains the standout song. Deep and spiritual music that transcends time.

Lou Bond – Lou Bond [We Produce]
Hugely underrated soul LP that features one of the songs that changed my life forever, To the Establishment. The only other soul song that is somewhat close to this in terms of pure emotion would be Terry Callier's Dancing Girl, another all-time fave. Just listen to this, close your eyes and let the music take you to places you didn't know existed.

Bobby Paunetto – Paunetto's Point [Pathfinder]
I used to buy tons and tons of jazz fusion back when I was younger, and I'm sad to say that a lot of it doesn't sound as good to me as it once did. This record however remains an absolute standout – Latin Nuyorican fusion with a great vibe throughout and not a single weak track. I could probably listen to this on repeat forever.

James Mason – Rhythm of Life [Chiaroscuro] 
This is a well-known classic rare groove piece but it's just so damn good that I have no shame in repping this in 2014. So many good tracks... Sweet Power, Free, Funny Girl. It's basically an end-to-end burner.

Raphael Green – Mystery Love [Private Press]
Super obscure modern gospel LP that I just recently acquired. Amazing vocals on this one and with a cover screaming 'lo-fi private press,' you just can't pass on stuff like this. Well recommended if you ever see it.

Faith – Faith [Vista]
Another bizarre and stupidly rare gospel record, this time out of Holland though. It's pretty wacky but there is the amazing Psalm 23 that is just completely all over the place and sounds like nothing else I've ever heard. Huge DJ Shadow-esque breakbeats, psych guitars, vibes, LinnDrum toms and sweet soul vocals, but recorded in the late 70s? Damn.

James Tatum – Contemporary Jazz Mass [Private - JTTP]
My all-time favourite spiritual jazz LP. It really doesn't get better than this if you are into the post-Coltrane Afro-centric stuff on labels like Strata-East, Tribe, etc. A deeply sad, emotional record that is pure perfection in my book. 

Thesda – Spaced Out [Private - Integrated Performance Systems International Inc.] 
First of all, yes, that is the label name. Integrated Performance Systems International Incorporated. Very ambitious name for a label that released only this one record. Secondly, they actually recorded themselves smoking bong hits on the main track. Oh, and the record is called Spaced Out. Need more info? Probably not.

Dazzle – Dazzle [De-Lite] 
Leroy Burgess might be my favourite disco producer/songwriter and this record is full of his signature boogie sound. I play Reaching on a regular basis and it never fails to send smiles all over the dancefloor. Essential stuff.

Stevie Wonder – Innervisions [Tamla Motown]
In my world, what Coltrane is to jazz, Stevie is to soul. I had the opportunity to see him perform live and it is just unbearable how bizarrely talented this guy is – to this day, I still remember that feeling as I stood watching him. If you ever get the chance, go see him. It will be unbelievably worth your while.