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Album Of The Day | Tarika Blue – The Very Best Of (Soul Brother Records) | 16th March 2021

10 track “Best Of” from the Jazz Funk band that included James Mason & Ryo Kawasaki & recorded for the same label as James. Incl. “Truth Is The Key” – similar to Seawind’s “He Loves You” & the Fusion dancer “Out Of This World”. Check also the beautiful “Dreamflower” as sampled by the Underwolves & used by Erykah Badu. Strong yet relatively unknown Jazz Funk album.

“From a musical perspective, the 1970’s were a good time for having your cake and eating it too. The Term “out of the box thinking” was not in play – it didn’t need to be. Herbie Hancock was playing funk, elements of rock were prominent in the Isley Brothers’ sound, Donald Byrd was playing R&B and Kool and the Gang was getting jazzy. And, of course, Miles was Miles.

Commercially succesful artists were drawing on on diverse idioms to articulate their vision, giving far less regard to categorization than in any previous time. Of  course the A and R people were telling us that no one would ever buy any of it, and Donna Summer and The Beegees eventually won that day, but, as the ongoing passion for the music of that period illustrates, it was a good time to have ears.

In New York City, WRVR and WBLS were the #1 Jazz and R&B stations respectively. They were next-door neighbours on the radio dial (some radios still had dials) and their playlists overlapped by a good 20 per cent Artistic walls were coming down and it was all funky, jazzy  and intense… and we all had our own unique flavour.

The two albums contained on this CD exemplify that music and time The Tarika Blue sound is unique, yet familiar. Its particular blend of elements, reflects an aesthetic developed by Phil Clendeninn, Barry Coleman and Kevin Atkins, the core of the band, over their long partnership.

Whether it was winning “Battle of the Bands” contests playing songs like “Freedom Jazz Dance” or “Watermelon Man” while still in high school, or opening for the Mahavishnu Orchestra while still in college, Tarika Blue cosistently embodied a compelling quality that caused audiences to take notice, as can be heard in “Blue Neptune”, a personal favourite…

Tarika Blue gave me my first opportunities to record extensively, and performing with them as the opening act for Roy Ayers provided the introduction that led me to working with Roy. And, without Phil Clendininn vouching for me with the record company, and then helping out in the studio, “Rhythm of Life” would never have happened.

Recently both mainstream and underground stars have sampled portions of these LP’s. This music is good. Its vibes are positive. It speaks for itself.

Buy lots and lots of copies.” — James Mason, July 2001

Buy Here:

Listen Here:

Tarika Blue – Love It
Tarika Blue – Truth Is Key
Tarika Blue – Dreamflower
Tarika Blue – You’ll Be With Me
Tarika Blue – Things Spring
Tarika Blue – Charlie
Tarika Blue – Revelation
Tarika Blue – Out Of This World
Tarika Blue – Download Sound
Tarika Blue – Blue Neptune