Ray Barretto - Acid
James Brown - In The Jungle Groove
Tim Buckley - Goodbye & Hello
Joao Donato - A Bad Donato
Jimmy Smith - Root Down - Jimmy Smith Live!

Here comes a first set of classics selected for you by the Paris DJs crew. All 5 titles come from a golden era in music: 1968-1972. No collectors-only selection or happy-few-only elitism in here, we're talking massive albums, essential listening for your musical education, pleasure for your boddhi and body, and easy-to-find records for birthday presents. Things start on a sad note, as beloved percussion master Ray Barretto has left us last week. But it's still time to (re-)discover his wonderful music. That's why we'll present on ParisDJs.com next monday a respectful tribute podcast to celebrate his life and oeuvre. Meanwhile, for this weekend we urge you to go for his "Acid" album from 1972, simply one of the bests latin jazz, percussion and soul albums out there.
Another good shopping idea would be the "In The Jungle Groove" James Brown compilation from 1986, recently reissued with a new bonus track, and available these days for 6.99 Euros! Don't me misguided, it's a pure selection of ultimate JB funkiness from 1969-1972, that could have made one hell of an ultimate James Brown album if it had been issued as such at the time.
If you're looking a little bit of California spirit, you could try the "Greeting from LA" de Tim Buckley, a white rhythm'n'blues classic from Los Angeles at the beginning of the seventies that you can't get tired of.
Or you could try bossa nova pianist Joao Donato 1970's excursion into brazilian, jazz, funk, rock, and electronic fusion music... That one's called "A Bad Donato - Psychedelic Funky Experience" and it's arranged by none other than Eumir Deodato. Nuff' said.
This week's bag of marvels ends with an essential raw'n'soul jazz live album from Hammond B3 organ king Jimmy Smith, "Root Down". It's still smoking hot, so don't hesitate!