'Expansions' from 1975 was Lonnie Liston Smith's big crossover album that helped the keyboardist reach a wider audience. It is one of the all time greatest Jazz Funk albums. The title track 'Expansions' is one of those really special tracks that still sounds fresh even after 1000's of plays and is totally engaging from the introduction triangle right to the last bar, pure magic if you are listening or dancing to it. Lonnie's brother Donald Smith sings the positive lyrics with his distinctive voice. Every track on this album is special from pulsating 'Voodoo Woman' to the mystical 'Shadows', and...
The cover of Thrust reveals a lot of the album. Herbie’s sitting comfortably in his spaceship controlled by a synth from an alien world, reaching to the clouds and beyond. Well, that’s what his stature was in 1974 – one of the seminal renewers of Jazz by incorporating new electric instruments like the ARP synthesizer. Thrust is the follow up to Head Hunters [MOVLP030] using the same band except for drummer Harvey Mason, who is replaced by Mike Clark, a Jazz great in his own right. Again, only four songs on this single LP, each around 10 minutes long. “Butterfly”...
Johnny Hammond classic 1975 album ‘Gears’ was produced by the Mizell Brothers at the top of their game and is one of the all time great Jazz-Funk albums. It includes the funky up tempo instrumental ‘Los Conquistadores Chocolates’, and the Rare grooves ‘Fantasy’ , ‘Tell Me what to do’, ‘shifting Gears’ and beautiful ‘Can’t we smile’. The previously unissued ‘A Childs love’ is featured on the bonus CD and LP reissues with fast and superior slow versions, ‘Song for my family’ and more upbeat ‘Detroit Rainbow’ are interesting but can’t match the quality of the tracks on the awesome original...
Imagine a voice with the richness of Nat King Cole, the phrasing and lyricism of Bill Wither and the range, depth and soulfulness of Dwight Trible/ Leon Thomas (Minus the yodelling) – Gregory Porter’s voice is such an instrument and a beautiful one at that. From the spiritual Jazz of ‘Black Nile’, the Coltrane-esque ‘Wisdom’ and the urgent fire ‘1960 What?’, Porter excels vocally. He is equally at home with more gentle songs ‘Pretty’. The musicianship and arrangements are first class allowing the vocalist, the rhythm section and horns space to breathe and stretch out where appropriate. This is the...
Superb Disco Jazz Funk album, Idris Muhammad recorded ‘Turn this Mutha Out’ for the Kudu label in 1977. ‘Could Heaven Ever Be Like This’ – a long-term favourite is like being momentarily transported to Jazz Funk paradise, a magical track that has become a classic. ‘Camby Bolongo’ is a delightful percussion heavy rhythmic instrumental featuring Randy Brecker on Trumpet and Jeremy Steig on flute. ‘Crab Apple’ is a wonderfully funky track with a great bass line and groove that has found favour with samplers. ‘Moon Hymn’ is a beautiful etherial track featuring David Tofani on Soprano Sax, that develops into...
The Mizell brothers produced some great jazz funk albums in the early to mid 70’s and were most associated with Donald Byrd and this classic 1975 album in particular. Their joyful heavily orchestrated backing tracks framed the lead instrument to create a total sound. Trumpeter Donald had recorded many great albums for Blue Note in the previous 10 years this one was probably his most accessible.The supporting cast of musicians incl Harvey Mason, Chuck Rainey, Skip Scarborough and King Ericson play note perfect. The uptempo ‘Change’ sets the tone, the beautiful mid tempo ‘Wind Parade’ , ‘Dominoes’ and ‘Places And...
This 1977 album from Roy Ayers guitarist James is one of the best rare groove jazz funk album ever. Featuring an all star line up inc Narada Michael Walden, Gene Torres and Roy Ayers sidemen Justo Almerio and Phillip Woo with the distinctive vocals of Clarice Taylor. ‘Sweet Power Your Embrace’ is an anthem that has all the hallmarks , driving rhythm, phat beats, eerie keyboards and those vocals ! The more urgent and percussive ‘Free’, ‘I’ve Got My Eye On You’ and ‘Rhythm Of Life’ and the mid tempo dancer ‘Slick City’ are also popular tracks. Also check the...
Jazz is full of unsung heroes, men and women whose talent did not receive full recognition that may be they should. Hank Mobley is one such figure. The tenor saxophonist had the (mis)fortune to be contemporary with arguably the three of the greatest Jazz exponents of this instrument – John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Stan Getz, not to mention Dexter Gordon. Mobley’s art was defined by the beauty of his playing – its smoothness and soulfulness – as well as his prodigious writing. Hank was to Hard Bop what Grover Washington Jr was to Jazz Funk, ‘Soul Station is an...
Mark Murphy is the archetypal Jazz singer; the term vocaleese was almost invented for him. His clear diction, pure tone and jazzy delivery earmarked Murphy as a singer of rare talent and one of post Hard Bop’s true singing legends. He combined style, incredible technique and a sense of humour. He displayed a level of improvisation and spontaneity that many contemporary Jazz Musicians would be proud to achieve. Mark was able to find and express the inner meaning of a song, spin it around and deliver it in a new and fresh way. He was always achingly hip, his incredible...
Often regarded as one of the greatest vibraphone players ever, Roy Ayers began his career as a jazz player, releasing several albums with Arista Records before his tenure at Polydor Records, during which he built and developed a new R&B style, fusing Jazz with the emerging disco sounds as well as drawing on funk. The Roy Ayers Ubiquity formed in 1970 and the unit recorded several albums for Polydor featuring such players as Sonny Fortune, Billy Cobham, Omar Hakim, and Alphonse Mouzon. With influences including the electric side of Miles Davis and the Herbie Hancock Sextet the Ubiquity gradually shed...
