Blue Mitchell - 1972 - Blues' Blues

Blue Mitchell - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Darrell Clayborn - Bass [Fender]

Ray Pounds - Drums

John Guerin - Drums

Joe Sample - Electric Piano, Piano [Acoustic]

Freddie Robinson - Guitar [Electric]

John Mayall - Harmonica

Herman Riley - Saxophone [Tenor], Flutev

At the time that this Mainstream LP was recorded, Blue Mitchell was the featured trumpeter with John Mayall's blues group. Mayall returned the favor for Blue's set, playing harmonica with an electric octet headed by Mitchell. Among the sidemen are Herman Riley (on tenor and flute), keyboardist Joe Sample and guitarist Freddy Robinson. The material (all obscure originals) is primarily blues-oriented, and the music overall is listenable and funky, but not particularly memorable. Just an average date from these fine musicians.

1. Casa Blues (8:25)

2. Just Made Up (7:32)

3. Blues' Blues (7:05)

4. Granite & Concrete (9:51)

5. I Didn't Ask To Be (10:09)

Link:Download

Push - 1996 - Can't Fight It

Label: Soulciety Records

Catalog#: ME 00481

Country: Germany

Released: 1996

Bass - Ernie McKone

Drums - Crispin Taylor

Engineer - Alex Osman , Matt G

Guitar - Mark Vandergucht

Keyboards - Mike McEvoy*

Percussion - Conor Smith

Saxophone, Flute - Jacko Peake

Trumpet - Damon Brown (2)

Vocals - Eddie Saunders

1. Theme From "Push"

2. Fight It

3. Scarper

4. Contribution

5. Positive

6. The Flute Tune

7. Gimme Some More

8. Out On Sunday

9. Awesome Measure

10. It's Over

11. Jack's Jam

12. Ice

Link:Download

Joe Henderson - 1973 - Canyon Lady

Joe Henderson - "Canyon Lady"

(LP Milestone Records, 1973)

Produced by Orrin Keepnews for Milestone Records

Recorded in October 1973 at Berkeley

Personnel :

Joe Henderson (ts)

Luis Gasca, Oscar Brashear, John Hunt (tp)

Julian Priester, Nicholaas TenBroek (tb)

Hadley Caliman, Ray Pizzi, Vincent Denham (flutes)

George Duke (el. piano)

Mark Levine (ac.piano)

John Heard (b)

Eric Gravatt (d)

Francisco Aguabella (perc.)

01. Tres Palabras

02. Las Palmas

03. Canyon Lady

04. All Thing Considered

Link:Download

Dizzy Gillespie & Lalo Schifrin - 1977 - Free Ride

Dizzy Gillespie teamed up with Lalo Schifrin to compose and produce for him. The result is some interesting parts like a bass line with congas in Incantation, but a lot of the music is light, poppy jazz with a lot of wah wah guitar, sort of like Bob James. The best track is the last, Last Stroke Of Midnight with a dark and mysterious feel to it with keyboard work that sounds like it could be part of an Afrika Bambaataa track. Really though, most of the songs tend to merge into each other in an unmentionable mass.

01 - Unicorn

02 - Fire Dance

03 - Incantation

04 - Wrong Number

05 - Free Ride

06 - Ozone Madness

07 - Love Poem For Donna

08 - The Last Stroke Of Midnight

Link:Download

Charles Williams - 1972 - Stickball

Charles Williams - Stickball

1972

Charles Williams (alto sax)

Chris Woods (alto sax, baritone sax)

David "Bubba" Brooks (tenor sax)

Frank Wess (tenor sax, flute)

Don Pullen (organ)

Clyde Lucas (drums)

Cornell Dupree (guitar)

David Spinozza (guitar)

Gordon Edwards (bass guitar)

Paul Griffin (electric piano)

Randy Brecker (flugelhorn)

Ray Barretto (congas)

David Carey (congas & marimbas)

and a 16-headedstring section, conducted by Ernie Wilkins

Recorded in NY 1972

LP: Mainstream 381

CD: Mainstream PCD 23934

Full-on funky backings for saxophonist Charles Williams -- a set that almost has him in the same territory as Stanley Turrentine during his late 70s years on Fantasy Records, or Hank Crawford over at Kudu! The style here is a bit more lush than some of the other Mainstream Records dates of the time -- full backings arranged and conducted by Ernie Wilkins -- always plenty darn soulful, and built around a mix of strings and jazzier instrumentation -- set up with the care and precision of a hip soul soundtrack, and topped by well-crafted alto sax solos by Williams.

01. Who Is He (And What Is He To You)

02. People Make The World Go 'Round

03. Where Is The Love

04. Iron Jaws

05. Drown In My Own Tears

06. Ain't No Blues

07. Just Before Day

08. Willow Weep For Me

Link:Download

Ramon Morris - 1973 - Sweet Sister Funk

Ramon Morris

Sweet Sister Funk

'73 New York

Ramon Morris (ts)

Albert Daily (el-p)

Mickey Bass (b)

Granville "Mickey" Roker (dr)

Cecil Bridgewater (tp)

Lloyd Davis (g)

Tony Waters (congas)

One of the rarest albums on the Groove Merchant label -- and one of the best! Ramon Morris has a sweet tone on the tenor that works very well with the electric piano in his tight little combo -- grooving with a style that's like the best Black Jazz funk records of the time -- mixing together bright notes, funky rhythms, and plenty of great chord changes! Cecil Bridgewater's on trumpet, and the band has a really righteous feel -- with lots of real soul and thoughtful playing mixed into the jazz funk grooves of the record. Massive -- with titles that include "Sweat", "Lord Sideways", "Sweet Sister Funk", and a nice version of "People Make The World Go Round".

01. First Come, First Serve

02. Wijinia

03. Sweet Sister Funk

04. Sweat

05. Don't Ask Me

06. Lord Sideways

07. People Make The World Go Around

Link:Download

Frank McComb - 2003 - The Truth

Listening to Frank McComb's album "The Truth Vol. One" artists like Steve Wonder, Donny Hathaway or Curtis Mayfield come into mind. Frank McComb is an excellent pianist and a charismatic singer. His first noticeable appearance was as a musical director for the R&B group Rude Boys, subsequently backing DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (better known as Will Smith) in the studio. In 1994 he played with Branford Marsalis on his jazz-rap fusion project Buckshot LeFonque. His first solo album "Love Stories" was released in early 2000. Although that was not the first stuff he recorded. He was signed to Mojazz Records but the album he recorded there was shelved. "You Don't Know What Love Is" was a song he recorded with Marilyn Scott for her album "I’m In Love Once Again" (Release May 2003).

Now he is back with his new album, which will be released July 7th in the U.K (Expansion Records). The album starts with the love song Shine. A tasteful attempt of approach to a young beautiful lady with a shy attitude. Frank McComb smoky vocals have a high worth of recognition. The funky song is perfectly tailored to this singer and immediately ignites a flammable interest. The tune has a length of more than 7 minutes, enough time to let the feelin' grow.

''Watcha Gonna Do'' revives the flashback mood to good old Stevie Wonder. If you don't know Frank's music, it's really easy to think it's he, Stevie. Not only the similiarity of Frank's voice is phenomenal but also arrangement and instrumentation.

The love is standing in the center of Frank's interest as proved on ''Never Letting Go''. Remarkable Luis Van Taylor on flute with reverb and echoes building a waving soundscape.

On ''Do You Remember Love'' Frank plays intensively Wurlitzer Piano and Moog creating the dense atmosphere of Steve Wonder's music.

Human relationship is also the theme of ''Fools''. "Some are wise, then there are fools. Life has a way of changing things and the wise will learn while fools think it's oh so funny." This worldly wisdom is presented in a funky way. This time with the support of a Fender Rhodes piano combined with wah-wah effects.

Friends of Hammond B3 will like ''Action Speak Louder Than Words''. The Hammond player is no other than Billy Preston. Frank plays the Wurlitzer piano. Frank's vocal variety is phenomenal. Only a live version of this song could overtrump it.

''Cupids Arrow'' is pointed straight to our hearts. As all other songs Frank has affecionately made an arrangement with many details and grace.

On ''Better Off Without You'' Frank's natural timbre stands anew in the limelight. Frank knows to sing and the love song stands in the centre.

A vocal treasure is also the slow ''Intimate Time''. Paulhino Da Costa shows some nice percussion effects of exotic nature straight ahead from the jungle.

''Shine'' is added as a bonus mix. This song has a high potential for the first single release.

...

A classical interpretation with Grand Piano (Wayne Linsey), Harp (Lori Andrews), Cellos, Violas and Violins (Mark Cargil) intensified the impression of When You Call My Name and Frank's incredible voice.

01 - Shine

02 - Whatcha Gonna Do

03 - Never Letting Go

04 - Do You Remember Love

05 - Fools

06 - When You Call My Name

07 - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

08 - Cupid's Arrow

09 - Better Off Without You

10 - Intimate Time

11 - Shine [Bonus Mix]

Link:Download

Donny Hathaway and Friends - Live At The Astrodome

Very rare album of the great Donny Hathaway , so favorite of mine. I hope to enjoy it , like i am ... I'm sorry but i don't have any information about this performance , may be if some one have will let me know .

01. What's Goin On

02. Giving Up

03. You've Got a Friend

04. Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)

Link:Download

Lonnie Liston Smith - 1998 - Transformation

Transformation finds Lonnie Liston Smith continuing to explore the smooth, overtly commercial soul-jazz direction he began in the early '80s. It has a bit more grit and invention than such albums as Magic Lady, yet it doesn't surge forward with the restless searching that distinguished his earlier masterworks. His brother Donald sings on "Space Princess" and "Transformation," but the best moments are tracks like his reworking of "A Chance for Peace (Give Peace a Chance)," which suggest that Smith still has the talent to be a true contender.

01. A Change For Peace (Give Peace a Change)

02. Nubian Nights

03. Caribbean Sunrise

04. Space Princess

05. Quiet Moments

06. Angels Of The Night

07. Transformation

08. Expansions

09. Moon Beams

10. Queen Of Hearts

11. Beautiful Girl

12. A Chance For Peace (Instr.)

Link:part 1

Link:part 2

Jukka Eskola Quintet - 2006 - Hub Up

A beautiful tribute to the electric side of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard , done by Jukka Eskola from Five Corners Quintet, in a mode that almost beats some of Freddie's classic work for CTI! The setting here is spare and simple , trumpet from Jukka, tenor from Timo Lassey, and bass, drums, and plenty of sweet electric keys. All hitting a groove that's soulful, soaring, and filled with the new sense of invention that Hubbard brought to his work at the start of the 70s. Most of the tracks here are originals by Hubbard , "Keep Your Soul Together", "Gibraltar", "Povo", and "Love Connection" , but the set also features the well-penned original "Deli", and a version of Weldon Irvine's "Mr Clean" , a key title in the Hubbard songbook of the CTI years!

01 - Keep Your Soul Together

02 - Gibraltar

03 - Brigitte

04 - Deli

05 - Mr.Clean

06 - Povo

07 - Love Connection

Link:Download

Marvin Gaye - 2008 - Here My Dear EXPANDED EDITION

The year is 1978 and Marvin Gaye is fresh off a divorce from Anna Gordy, the sister of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. MG's choice of release therapy? Chronicling the entire divorce, his feelings, and his failure at love on his out-of-print, oft-slept on album, Here, My Dear. When the album was initially released in 1978 during the height of the disco era, the LP was highly criticized for it's uncommercial sound and intensely introspective lyrics. When the LP was first re-issued in the early 90s, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and featured in-depth liner notes from Gaye's biographer David Ritz. Ritz wrote that Gaye was convinced that Motown would never push an album critical of the sister of company founder Berry Gordy, Jr., and did all he could to alienate the label, never giving Motown a chance to promote the album properly.

CD1

1. Here, My Dear

2. I Met A Little Girl

3. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You

4. Anger

5. Is That Enough

6. Everybody Needs Love

7. Time To Get It Together

8. Sparrow

9. Anna's Song

10. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You - Instrumental

11. A Funky Space Reincarnation

12. You Can Leave, But It's Going To Cost You

13. Falling In Love Again

14. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You [Reprise]

15. Ain't It Funny (How Things Turn Around) - Alternate Mix

Link:Download

CD2

1. Here, My Dear - Alternate Mix

2. I Met A Little Girl - Alternate Version

3. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You - Alternate Version

4. Anger - Alternate Extended Mix

5. Is That Enough - Instrumental

6. Everybody Needs Love - Alternate Version

7. Time To Get It Together - Alternate Extended Mix

8. Sparrow - Alternate Version

9. Anna's Song - Alternate Version

10. A Funky Space Reincarnation - Alternate Extended Mix

11. You Can Leave, But It's Going To Cost You - Alternate Extended Mix

12. Falling In Love Again - Alternate Version

13. A Funky Space Reincarnation - Instrumental

Link:Download

The Greyboy Allstars - 1995 - West Coast Boogaloo (with Fred Wesley)

In 1995, The Greyboy Allstars teamed up with reknowned funk trombonist Fred Wesley to record their first album, West Coast Boogaloo. The group then recorded a live album in 1997. Their latest release, A Town Called Earth, was issued on their own Greyboy Records label in late 1997.

The Greyboy Allstars:

Karl Denson (vocals, soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, flute)

Harold Todd (tenor saxophone, flute)

Robert Walter (electric piano, organ)

Elgin Park (guitar)

Chris Stillwell (bass)

Zak Najor (drums)

Craig Levitz (percussion.

Additional personnel:

Fred Wesley (trombone).

01 - Soul Dream

02 - Let the Music Take Your Mind

03 - Fried Grease

04 - Fire-Eater

05 - Tenor Man

06 - Miss Riverside

07 - Gravee

08 - Browns at Home

Link:Download

Supersauce - 1998 - Keep On Keepin' On

Gretchen Lieberum - vocals

Michael Cruz - bass

Alex Budman - saxophone, flute

Jordan Glasgow - keyboards

Tim Carter - drums

David Metzner - guitar

Also featured on Keep On Keepin' On:

Dustin Hengl - trumpet

Dave Scott - trumpet

Primo Navarez - percussion

Founded by bassist Michael Cruz and vocalists Gretchen Lieberum and Maya Rudolph, Supersauce formed in 1993 at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Picking up where bands like the Brand New Heavies and Incognito left off, the group achieved local stardom almost overnight. From their first gig at a Halloween house party, they immediately graduated to rocking sell out crowds at infamous Santa Cruz institution, The Catalyst. The recipe was simple -- part funk, part groove, and all party. As their theme song goes, "once you taste The Sauce, you'll never be the same."

01. Keep On Keepin' On

02. Soldier

03. EZ West

04. Walk Slowly

05. Song In C

06. M-Bomb

07. Butterfly

08. Six Bucks On The Dollar

09. Gotta Get Back

10. Mango Street

Link:Download

Christian Scott - 2006 - Rewind That

CHRISTIAN SCOTT

Rewind That

2006

Concord Jazz 3122442

Christian Scott – Trumpet

Luques Curtis – Bass

Thomas Pridgen – Drums

Walter Smith III (except track 1) – Tenor-sax

Matt Stevens (except track 4) – Guitar

Zaccai Curtis (except track 10) – Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer

Donald Harrison (tracks 4, 8, 10 and 11) – Alto-sax

The jazz world used to be full of tenor-saxophonists pretending to be John Coltrane. Hearing this debut album by a 22-year-old trumpeter, I begin to think we are surrounded by trumpeters who want to sound like Miles Davis. Christian Scott has the same mournful tone (sometimes sounding rather flat) and the same economy with notes – playing short phrases above ostinato patterns very much in the style of Miles Davis when he was in his jazz-rock mode. Like Miles, Christian occasionally breaks out into fierce flurries of notes but most of his playing is subdued – and sadly rather uninteresting.

Thomas Pridgen’s cracking drums reinforce the jazz-rock style, mostly using the eight-in-a-bar rhythms of fusion, and Matt Stevens’ guitar adds some abrasive commentary – which can intrude on the ear in an otherwise well-recorded album. Christian Scott wrote nine of the eleven tracks himself but they tend to retread familiar paths and have little melodic appeal, preferring to depend upon repetitive grooves. Scott’s version of Miles Davis’s So What is rather lacklustre until Donald Harrison comes in with some biting alto-sax. In fact the outstanding soloists here are not Scott but Donald Harrison and tenor-saxist Walter Smith III, who both produce shapely solos. Despite their contributions, I am unlikely to be tempted to follow the CD title’s advice and rewind this album to hear it again.

01. Rewind That

02. Say It

03. Like This

04. So What

05. Rejection

06. Lay in Vein

07. She

08. Suicide

09. Caught Up

10. Paridise Found

11. Kiel

Link:Download

Corey Wilkes - 2008 - Drop It

Corey Wilkes - Drop It

2008

Chelsea Baratz, tenor sax

Jabari Liu, alto sax

Robert "Baabe" Irving III, piano and Fender Rhodes

Junius Paul, bass

Jeremy "Bean" Clemmons, drums

Jazz trumpeter Corey Wilkes burst on the Chicago jazz scene in 2002. Corey took on the ghost of Lester Bowie and filled the vacant seat in the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Big shoes to fill for a new musician but Corey isn't an ordinary musician. He began at the age of 10, made the Illinois All State Honors Jazz Combo in high school and honed his talent at Berklee College of Music. His soulful notes can be heard gracing a variety of projects such as DJ sets by Logic, Osunlade and Josh Deep; tracks on Hidden Beach's Unwrapped Vol. 4, also recorded with Roscoe Mitchell, Art Ensemble, Tortoise, Ernest Dawkins, Nicole Mitchell and Ethnic Heritage Ensemble's Hot 'N' Heavy.

01. Trumpet Player (Feat. Miyanda Wilson)

02. Sonata In The Key Of Jack Daniels

03. Drop It

04. Remy's Revenge

05. Prelude - Touch

06. Touch

07. Return 2 Sender

08. Searchin'

09. Ubiquitous Budafly

10. Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter (Feat. Dee Alexander)

11. Drop It (Live)

Link:Download