This is the second in a series of music selections inspired by the music from Black Jazz Records.
The founders were Gene Russell and Dick Schory who created the record label around 1969 and released albums from 1971 to 1975, promoting the talents of young African American jazz musicians and singers
With the turn of the turn-of-the-seventies and the emergence of revolutionary developments from Electric Miles, Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane and
John Coltrane, the funky mutations of soul and jazz, Black Jazz Records took full advantage of all the possibilities that lay ahead for jazz.
Black Jazz Records was the first black-owned jazz label in 50 years and they achieved the kind of music status that most ’70s and '80s indie record labels could barely dream of.
Later DJs Gilles Peterson and Theo Parrish, made mixes and a compilation album focusing on the Black Jazz label. Through the music, you will hear in my first mix I hope to give you a flavour of what they brought to the jazz world, and how much the music from Black Jazz Records means to me from their short existence.
A further note – in 1971, the first Black Jazz Record album released was Gene Russell’s New Direction, which inspired the birth of NuDirections.
Although the label only lasted a little over five years Black Jazz Records carved its place in the history of jazz.
Info
- For more information about this rich playlist and an informative blog dedicated to my Black Jazz Records music selection please visit: https://www.jazzmattersuk.com/blogs/jazz-matters-digs-black-jazz-records-selection-2
- Blogs - https://www.jazzmattersuk.com/blogs
- website - www.raysroom.org
- email - [email protected]
- Music Player - https://pod.co/nudirections
- Jazz Matters Info - https://www.jazzmattersuk.com/about
Please enjoy the music I love from different times and different places.
Ray
Playlist
Artist - Track – (Album)
The Awakening - Kera's Dance (Hear, Sense and Feel)
Gene Russell - Get Down
Kellee Patterson - Maiden Voyage
Doug Carn – Moon Child
Message From the Tribe - Space Odyssey
Message From the Tribe - Beneficent
Rudolph Johnson - The Highest Pleasure
Walter Bishop Jr. - Soul Village
Doug Carn – Acknowledgment
Chester Thompson - Power House
Calvin Kets - Aunt Lovey
Jazz Matters
Jazz Matters is a not-for-profit hobby project that I’m extremely proud of.
It began life in May 2021 as NuDirections, a weekly radio show on a London community station. That spirit of discovery still runs through everything I do.
But today, Jazz Matters has evolved into a global podcast platform for Jazz and World music lovers — reaching over 40,000 open-minded listeners across 57 countries on more than 24 platforms.2025/6 marks a new era. My love of music has always gone beyond Jazz, so I’ve created two distinct but connected spaces here
Jazz Matters: Podcasts, Playlists and Music Videos.
Jazz Lines: Blogs, Interviews, Gallery & Pulse for Who's Shaping the Scene.
I’m also preparing a full digital relaunch from my new studio, from 1st May 2026, then every Jazz Matters podcast, mix, and special will stream exclusively from my website—no third-party platforms and no algorithms. Until then, you can listen here and on 24+ podcast platforms.
Alongside the music, you’ll find in Jazz Lines, my platform for blogs, interviews, gallery, and pulse that links to things that catch my ear and eye. A bold new chapter begins soon. New location. New music player. New studio.
Jazz Matters. Because the music — and everything around it — truly does.
Enjoy the music I love