Billy Parker's Fourth World - Freedom Of Speech (1975)

One of the greatest albums ever on the legendary Strata East label - and that's saying a hell of a lot! Drummer Billy Parker is a player that we don't know much, but he'll always be well-remembered for this album's sublime blend of spiritual jazz styles! The lineup is wonderful - a hip quintet with Ron Bridgewater on tenor and Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet - plus sister Dee Dee on additional vocals at a few points too! Donald Smith (Lonnie Liston's brother) also plays piano, and sings a bit - with his warmly soulful style that makes the album's leadoff track a killer classic - and the rest of the group is rounded out by Cecil McBee on bass and Parker on drums. Tracks have those perfect blends of searching, soaring elements that virtually define the Strata East vision in the 70s - and titles include the sublime "Dance of The Little Children", plus "Gemini's Lullaby", "Home", "Get With It", and "Freedom Of Speech".

Strata-East Records, SES-19754, 1975

Recorded 24^th May, 1974

Musicians:

Billy Parker - Drums

Cecil Bridgewater - Trumpet

Ronald Bridgewater - Tenor Saxophone

Donald Smith - Piano, Vocals

Cecil McBee - Bass

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Vocals

Tracks:

A1. Dance Of The Little Children {Donald Smith, Ronald Bridgewater} (5:06)

A2. Gemini's Lullabye {Cecil Bridgewater} (6:56)

A3. Home {Arr. Cecil McBee, Cecil McBee} (8:19)

B1. Get With It {Arr. Cecil Bridgewater, Ronald Bridgewater} (4:05)

B2. Freedom Of Speech {Billy Parker} (15:29)

Credits:

Producer - Billy Parker

Recording Engineer - Ron Carran

Mixing Engineer - Randy Adler

Design [Inside Cover Design] - Vernon Grant

Photography - Darnell C. Mitchell

Liner Notes - Billy Earl Parker Jr.

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