John Morrison’s Top 5: vocal jazz, underground rap, ’60s psych rock, more
Zacchae’us Paul
Following last month’s hustle and bustle, July has been relatively chill, unhurried, and low stakes. I’ve mostly been hanging out with friends, going to shows and—as always—digging for records. I’m still in my bag digging for and playing danceable jazz and latin records to play, but I’ve also been on the hunt for soulful R&B and hip-hop stuff that’s surprisingly been the soundtrack of my summer. Gems like Baybe’s “U Will Love Me,” Davina and Raekwon’s “So Good” and Heavyshift’s “Obey The Rules of The Night” have been staples on my turntable. In addition to these, there’s been lots of great local music that has added color and joy to this month. Here are five Philly-related highlights from July.
Zacchae’us Paul — JAZZ MONEY
I missed this one when it came out back in 2024, but I’m overjoyed to hear it now. JAZZ MONEY is an impressive full-length from singer and multi-instrumentalist Zacchae’us Paul and its one of the best albums I’ve heard in recent memory. From the breezy, bouncy soul of “BETTER DAYZ,” to the trippy backward effect on “FIRST BLACK REPUBLIC” this album is full of inventive instrumental and vocal arrangements. If you’re into really creative takes on contemporary vocal jazz, please check out this album.
Larry Gold – Don Cello And Friends
To say that cellist, and arranger Larry Gold has had a hand in every major movement in Philly’s music scene over the last five decades is an understatement. He’s worked with everyone from Woody’s Truck Stop and Teddy Pendergrass, to Cool C and The Roots. On 2003’s Don Cello And Friends, Gold stepped to the forefront with a solo album that connected his history with the present. With features from Black Thought, McFadden & Whitehead, Kindred The Family Soul, and others, Don Cello And Friends is emblematic of the neo-soul sound that defined Philly in the early 2000s.
Mountain Brothers — EP
The Mountain Brothers are Philly underground rap legends and they happen to be one of the first groups I ever interviewed as a young writer back in the day. Their albums Self: Volume 1 and Triple Crown are considered classics of the period, but I’ve recently come across a YouTube account that has uploaded their fantastic demo EP from 1996. “Paperchase” and “Optometry” are here alongside unreleased jams “Go For Broke” and “To Whom It May Concern” and the EP is one of the strongest ’90s demo tapes around.
The Magic Mushrooms — “Look In My Face/Never Let Go”
The Magic Mushrooms were a Philly psychedelic rock band that were truly ahead of their time. I’ve been playing 1966’s gloriously trippy “It’s-A-Happening” for a while and I’ve recently been introduced to its follow up “Look In My Face/Never Let Go.” “Look In My Face” has a funkier, R&B feel, while “Never Let Go” is an uptempo garage jam. After hearing this and a few spare tracks from the period, I’m wondering if an album’s worth of material exists somewhere in the A&M vaults.
Jill Scott at The Met
On July 27, I caught Jill Scott’s “To Whom This May Concern” tour at The Met in Philly. Not much more can be said about Scott as an artist and performer, but this concert reminded me of the strength and breadth of her catalog. Of course she played the classics like “Gettin’ In The Way” and “It’s Love,” but Scott and her band also knocked out great versions of cuts from the new album like “Norf Side” and “Be Great.” The evening was packed with highs and the audience was enthusiastic and energetic, proving there’s nothing like watching a Philly legend rocking out in front of a hometown crowd.