Ceasar Frazier - Hail Ceasar! (1972) [vinyl>flac]

Hail Ceasar! is the first album to feature organist Ceasar Frazier as a leader and it is very much a monster bit of funky jazz. The LP consists of a number of long tracks that all jam mightily, right up there with the best of the Soul Jazz grooves coming out of the early seventies. The album was released on the rare Eastbound label a jazz subsidiary of Westbound Records. It's overall success is contributed to highly by the recording maestro Rudy van Gelder. Ceasar pulls together a Prestige-styled combo with a group of players well-known and recorded by van Gelder. It includes Houston Person on soulful sax, Cecil Bridgewater blowing away on Trumpet, Melvin Sparks throwing in some heavy licks, Gordon Edwards ramping up the bass, Idris Muhammad smashing away on drums and Buddy Caldwell doing his bit on the congas. As a first this album truly showcases Ceasar grooving hard on the organ and the chosen tracks don't disappoint. Well recommended!

Eastbound Records, EB 9002, 1973

Personnel:

Ceasar Frazier - Organ

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Cecil Bridgewater - Trumpet

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Gordon Edwards - Bass

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Congas

Track Listing:

A1. Hicky Burr {Bill Cosby, Quincy Jones} (8:07)

A2. Ellie's Love Theme {Isaac Hayes} (5:03)

A3. See-F {Ceasar Frazier} (4:42)

B1. Hail Ceasar! {Melvin Sparks} (6:27)

B2. Make It With You {David Gates} (4:01)

B3. Runnin' Away {Sylvester Stewart} (4:58)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

Note:

Typo on file names: Hail Caesar! not Hail Ceasar!

Gary Chandler - Outlook (1972) [vinyl>flac]

Charles Earland was instrumental in introducing many new musicians to the attention of the jazz world. One such artist was Gary Chandler and here we have his rare and powerful album as a leader. Joined with Harold Ousley, Cornell Dupree, Buddy Caldwell, Idris Muhammad and others this LP is truly a jazz-funk gem.

After catching the attention of producer Bob Porter via Charles Earland dates including Living Black!, trumpeter Gary Chandler finally earned his shot as leader with Outlook, and don't let the absence of subsequent efforts fool you -- this is one of the true lost classics of jazz-funk, a Molotov cocktail lit with a burning joint. Cut with an all-star supporting cast including guitarist Cornell Dupree, organist Ceasar Frazier, tenorist Harold Ousley, and drummer Idris Muhammad, the record is less a collection of songs than one long, steamroller groove. Crate diggers and DJs have coveted "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" for years, but in truth, damn near every second of Outlook demands consideration as a sample. ~ Jason Ankeny, AMG.

Eastbound Records, EB 9001, 1972

Track Listing:

A1. Baby Let Me Take You [In My Arms] {Abrim Tilmon} (10:04)

A2. Flamingo {Edmund Anderson, Theodor Grouya} (6:38)

B1. Kaleidoscope {Gary Chandler} (4:40)

B2. The Jet Set {Gary Chandler} (4:02)

B3. Blue Dues {Gary Chandler} (7:17)

Personnel:

Gary Chandler - Trumpet

Harold Ousley - Tenor Saxophone

Dick Griffin - Trombone

Ceasar Frazier - Organ

Cornell Dupree - Guitar

Gordon Edwards - Electric Bass [Fender] (#A1, B1, B3)

Buddy Caldwell - Congas, Tambourine (#A1, B1-B3)

Idris Muhammad - Drums (#A1, B1-B3)

Robert Battle - Drums (#A2)