Name: Disco Reggae Rockers
Brand: Soul Jazz Records Presents

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LP-SOJR-516C

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Colour

Yellow

Colour details

Sun Yellow Vinyl

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Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2022-11-18

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Redeye

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

5026328805160

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Total Cap

2 / Extended format: Yes / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / Yellow

LP-SOJR-516

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Black

Extended format: No

5026328005164

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "5026328005164"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

2 / Black / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

CD-SOJR-516

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "CD-SOJR-516"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

2022-11-11

5026328105161

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "5026328105161"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Soul Jazz Records Presents

Genre US

Reggae / Dub

Label US

Soul Jazz

Japanese keyboardist, Yoshizawa Hajime, is a prominent figure in the nu-jazz movement. Born in Tokyo in 1965, he gained recognition through his collaborations with jazz drummer Peter Erskine and his involvement with bands like Mondo Grosso and Cosmic Village. With a blend of electronic soulful nu-jazz and straight-ahead jazz, Yoshizawa has released several albums under his own name as well as with Sleep Walker. His diverse range of projects showcases his talent as both a keyboard player and producer.

In addition to his work under his own name, Yoshizawa has also recorded under the moniker Electric Sheep. This experimental project explores ambient sounds and features remixes for artists such as The Jackson 5, Jazzanova, and Riviera. With influences ranging from beat-heavy sounds to more atmospheric compositions, Electric Sheep adds another layer to Yoshizawa's already impressive body of work.

Yoshizawa comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts. His father is actor Takao Yoshizawa, while his mother is former voice actress Nobuko Maki. He also has siblings involved in creative fields - playwright/director Koichi Yoshizawa and pianist Kyoko Yoshizawa. Through his musical endeavors and collaborations, Yoshizawa continues to make significant contributions to the world of jazz.

Disco Reggae Rockers features wicked reggae disco versions of funk, soul and disco classics! This new album follows on from Soul Jazz Records' earlier highly successful 'Hustle: Disco Reggae' and features reggae covers of classic songs by Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, Michael Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Candi Staton, Curtis Mayfield and more as performed by Derrick Harriott, Devon Russell, Hortense Ellis, Glen Adams, Dave Barker and others. 

The lineages of American soul and disco music on the one hand and Jamaican reggae on the other are so intertwined that its unsurprising that disco reggae – or reggae disco if you prefer – is such a winning and straightforward combination. American and Jamaican music has been influencing each other back and forth for many decades, and is one reason that the music of Diana Ross, Curtis Mayfield, the Isley Brothers and numerous other US soul artists is so widely appreciated in Jamaica. 

The most-straightforward definition of ‘Disco Reggae’ is to describe it as American disco and soul songs covered by reggae artists. But the relationship is binary – this is no mere subservient island appreciation of North American dominant culture but instead an example of the interweaving thread of Jamaican and American music that travels back and forth between the major cities of Kingston, London, Toronto, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. 

Having said that all of the songs featured here are indeed cover versions of (or at least heavily based on) US soul and disco tunes. Curtis Mayfield, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, Archie Bell, The Dramatics, Michael Jackson – the work of these artists resonated around the world and Jamaica was no exception. 

This album is released as a one-off limited Sun Yellow coloured vinyl gatefold double LP edition + download, with full sleevenotes.