Black Jazz Records

Black Jazz Records was a jazz record label founded in Oakland, California during the early 1970s by jazz pianist Gene Russell.

Russell founded the label as an alternative to traditional jazz invoking a more political and spiritual tone often with funk overtones. Black Jazz released various types of music including, funk, free jazz and soul jazz. According to a 1974 Billboard Magazine, one of the label's more successful artists, Doug Carn, sold more records than Dave Brubeck and Ramsey Lewis. The label existed for six years during its first run and ended following the death of Russell.

Discography

BJQD	Artists	Title	Recorded
1	Gene Russell	New Direction	1971
2	Walter Bishop, Jr.	Coral Keys	1971
3	Doug Carn	Infant Eyes	1971
4	Rudolph Johnson	Spring Rain	1971
5	Calvin Keys	Shawn-Neeq	1971
6	Chester Thompson	Powerhouse	1971
7	Henry Franklin	The Skipper	1971
8	Doug Carn	Spirit Of The New Land	1972
9	The Awakening	Hear, Sense And Feel	1972
10	Gene Russell	Talk To My Lady	1973
11	Rudolph Johnson	The Second Coming	1973
12	Kellee Patterson	Maiden Voyage	1974
13
14	Walter Bishop, Jr.	Keeper Of My Soul	1973
15	The Awakening	Mirage	1973
16	Doug Carn	Revelation	1973
17	Henry Franklin	The Skipper At Home	1974
18	Calvin Keys	Proceed With Caution!	1974
19	Roland Haynes	The Second Wave	1974
20	Cleveland Eaton	Plenty Good Eaton	1975
21	Doug Carn	Adams Apple	1973
22	Doug Carn	New Incentive: Firm Roots	2001

Musicians

• Gene Russell - Piano
• Calvin Keys - Guitar
• Walter Bishop, Jr. - Piano
• Henry Franklin - Bass
• Doug Carn - Piano, Organ, Keyboards
• Jean Carn - Vocalist
• Cleveland Eaton - bass
• Kellee Paterson - Vocalist
• The Awakening - Instrumental Group
• Chester Thompson - Organ
• Rudolph Johnson - Saxophone

External links

• Official site
• Complete Catalog
• Discogs entry