Tidal Waves Music is a Belgium based record label that focuses on releasing gems that might have been under the radar within the vinyl community with no limitations of style and genre. Their first reissue was Nina Simone's A Rare Evening - an intimate recording of Nina's live performance in Europe, which pretty much sets the tone for the label, unique and daring in its approach. Thanks to labels like Tidal Waves, gems are being excavated and with their small limited run and top notch quality control, it helps to give the music a chance for discovery once again.
Our first encounter with the label was the reissue of The Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun, an exclusive release for RSD 2018, a delightful reissue to bring back to light - funky and contagious in its groove. With that said, you would have probably seen Tidal Waves swimming in our Funk / Soul / Soul Jazz section - they sure know how to choose what's groovy and bring it out for a surf. This is our attempt at showcasing some of the LPs you might have missed while digging at the Vault!
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1. The Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun
1970's - It's Just Begun - a DJ favourite and sampled by some key players in the scene. Grandmaster Flash, Jungle brothers, Ice-T, De La Soul, Mos Def and many many more! A distinctive mix of Funk, Disco, Breaks, Pop Hooks, Social Commentary and a Gonzo Comedy feel. The groove on this LP is on another level, with the bass player (Doug Gibson) keeping it tight throughout. An absolute must to check out if you're interested in the roots of 70's funk.
2. The Real ShooBeeDoo - Reminiscing
Reggie Fields aka The Real ShooBeeDoo is well known in the Detroit jazz scene, having played and worked with the likes of Pharoah Sanders and Sun Ra, while also known as a close associate of the Afro-centric TRIBE label and artist collective.
You might be familiar with titles such as Phil Ranelin’s “The Time Is Now!” and Ranelin & Harrison’s masterpiece “A Message From The Tribe”; well, Reggie has left his marks on these albums! We’re huge fans of these albums here at the vault, and we cannot recommend these enough – especially if you’re on that soul jazz / spiritual tip. “Reminiscing” first came into fruition on Wendell Harrison’s imprint WENHA in 1981 and is now lovingly reissued by Tidal Waves Music on deluxe 180g vinyl, limited to 500 copies.
The lineup on this record includes Billy McCoy (Pharoah Sanders) on piano, Tani Tabbal (Roscoe Mitchell, Sun Ra) on percussion, Allan Barnes (Nina Simone, Bootsy Collins, Gill Scott Heron) on saxophone, and Wendell Harrison (Tribe) himself on tenor saxophone and vocals.
3. The Nineteenth Whole - Smiln'
An organ funk groove classic at its best!
Recorded in 1972 by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder at the Indianapolis Club of their namesake, it’s a sparkly collage of Funk, Soul, Rock and Jazz fusion packed with all the right ingredients for a get down.
Fronted by Billy Wooten’s vibes, Cornell Dupree’s guitar and Buddy Caldwell’s percussion, the five lengthy soul-jazz pieces contain some of the best licks you’ll hear. Constant shifts in grooves drive the emotional ride along, keeping you hooked where it matters.
The interconnectedness of these scenes become apparent when you look up jazz legend Grant Green’s involvement with the group – members of The Nineteenth Whole were recruited by the guitarist as his rhythm section for live dates in Indianapolis. Originally released in 1972 on Eastbound Records, this is a special piece of Indy funk history lovingly brought to circulation again thanks to Tidal Waves Music. Released on 180g deluxe vinyl, limited to 500 copies.
4. Pharoah Sanders - Moon Child | Timeless Records | 1990
First official reissue of this rare 1989 French session with the legendary Pharoah Sanders. On this album, Sanders provides a more traditional tone to the album mixed with mystical New Age vocals and astrological references. It might still be considered as an acquired taste when it comes to the sound of "Jazz" but no one has done it the way Pharoah has done it - extremely unique and experimental which makes it all the more a special listening experience to explore.
It features an all-star line-up consisting of Stafford James (Sun Ra) on bass, William Henderson (Roy Ayers) on piano and Eddie Moore (Sonny Rollins) on drums. The overall sound is reminiscent of the days of "The Creator Has a Master Plan", cosmic in nature and spiritual in its own way. Pharoah Sanders is one of the few greats that we are lucky to have around in the music realm, providing an endless stream of soul and promoting the spirit of exploration - this album is a perfect example of his uniqueness and an invitation to check out his huge discography.
5. Tony Newton - Mysticism & Romance
Drawing upon his rich past of immersion in the Detroit blues circuit, as well as his vision for the future, the cosmic bass player had truly broken ground on this highly intriguing album. This is the first ever vinyl reissue of Tony Newton’s solo debut from 1978.
Tony Newton is no stranger to the circuit, though. He started playing bass at a very young age with legends like John Lee Hooker and T-Bone Walker. He eventually became the touring bassist with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles on the famed 1965 European ‘Motown Review’ tour, and within two years, became the Miracles’ musical director.
P-funk-esque bass grooves and fusion jazz-rock lay the foundation for spacious synths and unusual instruments to dance around, driving forward a message of universal participation in the great symphony of life; of creativity and harmony, an invitation to tune in and discover our divine awareness. Once again, Tidal Waves has excavated an absolute gem of a record from 70’s Detroit.
Browse our Tidal Waves Music catalogue here.