Carlos Garnett - Journey To Enlightenment (1974) [re-rip>re-post]

Here's the second of the series of Carlos Garnett's Muse output. This time the listener is treated to a beautiful record of spiritual jazz. Recorded a year after “Black Love,” it shows the same blending of world music and themes with soaring, bitingly spiritual solos over Afro-centric and sometimes-funky grooves.

This album is simply remarkable. Each of the 5 pieces of music are unique and range from deep and spacy spiritual jazz (10 minute plus title track) to Latin jazz-fusion (Chana) to jazz-funk ferocity (Let Us Go To Higher Heights). Carlos is a sax master who definitely deserves much more recognition than he's received over the years. This album also features some supreme piano playing from Hubert Eaves and some straight up bad ass guitar work from Reggie Lucas.  ~ http://rateyourmusic.com

Muse Records, MR 5057, 1974
Recorded 20th September, 1974 at Minot Sound Studios, White Plains, New York

Track Listing:
A1. Journey To Enlightenment (10:58)
A2. Love Flower (7:21)
B1. Chana (6:20)
B2. Caribbean Sun (6:22)
B3. Let Us Go [To Higher Heights] (6:14)

Personnel:
Carlos Garnett - Reeds, Ukulele, Vocals (#A1,B2,B3)
Reggie Lucas - Guitar
Hubert Eaves - Keyboards
Anthony Jackson - Bass
Howard King - Drums
Charles Pulliam - Congas
Neil Clarke - Percussion
Ayodele Jenkins - Vocals (#A1,A2,B3)

Credits:
Producer - Carlos Garnett
Co-Producer -  Joe Fields
Recording & Mixing - John Battiloro

Carlos Garnett - Black Love (1974) [re-rip>re-post]

A 70s soul jazz classic - one of those albums we go back to again and again over the years for inspiration! The album was one of the first from young reed player Carlos Garnett - and it's virtually a super-session, with a lineup that includes heavyweights like Buster Williams, Norman Connors, Charles Sullivan, Mauricio Smith, Reggie Lucas, Billy Hart, Mtume, and Dee Dee Bridgewater - all coming together in a righteous blend of soul, funk, and jazz! The vibe here is incredible - far deeper than even on any of Garnett's other albums of the time - at a level that sounds as beautiful on the mellow cuts as it does on the soaring, spiritual soul jazz anthems that have made the record a classic for years. Includes the perennial favorites "Mother of the Future" and "Taurus Woman", two cuts which transformed the global jazz dance scene years back - plus the tracks "Ebonesque", "Black Love", and "Banks Of The Nile". © Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Muse Records, MR 5040, 1974

Recorded 18^th and 21^st January, 1974 at C.I. Recording Studio, New York City

Musicians:

Carlos Garnett - Tenor, Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Vocals (#A1,A2)

Charles Sullivan - Trumpet

Mauricio Smith - Flute

Allan "Onaje" Gumbs - Piano

Reggie Lucas - Electric Guitar (#A1,B1,B2)

Alex Blake - Bass (#A1,B1,B2)

Buster Williams - Bass (#A2,A3)

Jabali-Billy Hart - Drums

Norman Connors - Drums (#A1,A3,B1,B2)

Guilherme Franco - Percussion (#A1,A3,B1,B2)

James Mtume - Congas (#A1,A3,B1,B2)

Carlos Chambers - Yodeling (#B1)

Ayodele Jenkins - Vocals (#A1), Backing Vocals (#A2, B1)

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Vocals (#A3), Backing Vocals (#A1,A2,B1)

Tracks:

A1. Black Love (5:24)

A2. Ebonesque (8:05)

A3. Banks Of The Nile (4:11)

B1. Mother Of The Future (7:39)

B2. Taurus Woman (12:12)

All Compositions by Carlos Garnett

Credits:

Producer - Carlos Garnett, Joe Fields

Recording Engineer - Elvin Campbell

Mixing Engineer - Carlos Garnett, Elvin Campbell

Arranger - Carlos Garnett

Photography [Cover] - Clarence Eastmond

Album Design, Photography [Liner] - Ron Warwell