Hilton Ruiz - Strut (1988)

Pianist Hilton Ruiz mixes together elements of salsa, r&b, funk and jazz but, instead of his music becoming some type of hybrid, the result is a very danceable variety of jazz that is both accessible and challenging. Ruiz, whose main influence is McCoy Tyner, gathered together a very interesting assortment of players for Strut. Trumpeter Lew Soloff contributes some high notes and leads the horn riffing, trombonist Dick Griffin's extroverted trombone is witty in its short spots, Sam Rivers (mostly on tenor) and percussionist Mongo Santamaria add their sounds to the brew and guitarist Rodney Jones is second only to Ruiz in taking solo honors. It is particularly rewarding to hear a Latin remake of "The Sidewinder" and many of the other good-natured melodies are catchy. Strut should be able to win over both jazz fans and those listeners who claim to not understand or be able to appreciative creative music. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Novus Records, PD83053, 1989
Recorded 30th November & 1st December, 1988 at Studio B, RCA Studios, New York City

Musicians:
Hilton Ruiz - Piano
Lew Soloff - Trumpet
Dick Griffin - Trombone
Sam Rivers - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
Rodney Jones - Guitar, Bass (#7)
Francisco Centeno - Electric Bass
Robby Ameen - Drums, Timbales, Percussion (#4,5)
Steve Berrios - Drums (#4,5)
Mongo Santamaria - Congas 

Tracks:
1. The Sidewinder {Lee Morgan} (6:19)
2. Goin' Back To New Orleans {Hilton Ruiz} (10:45)
3. Bluz {Sam Rivers} (4:59)
4. Aged In Soul {William Allen} (4:19)
5. All My Love Is Yours {Dick Griffin} (8:07)
6. Soca Serenade {William Allen} (5:55)
7. Why Don't You Steal My Blues {Bradley Cunningham} (2:34)
8. Lush Life {Billy Strayhorn} (6:24) 

Total Time: 49:24 

Credits:
Producer - Ed Michel
Producer [Series] - Steve Backer
Engineer - Tony May
Disc Mastering - Jack Adelman
Art Direction, Design - Ria Lewerke, Pietro Alfien
Photography - Brian Davis 

Aged In Soul

Tom Browne - Browne Sugar (1979)

Despite the trumpet's prominent historic role in Jazz music, the instrument didn't showcase many of its practitioners in the contemporary jazz genre after the mid-Seventies. Queens, New York native Tom Browne, however, changed that notion. Browne's blistering solos and flair for melodicism and lyricism were on full display on Browne Sugar, his 1979 debut. From the album's opener, "Throw Down," composed by Browne, a bold, up tempo number that highlighted the trumpeter's facility to play smooth, fluid lines, to the closer "Antoinette Like," a contemplative ballad, penned by keyboard wunderkind Bernard Wright, Browne demonstrated that he is a focused, original artist, destined to be on the scene for the long run. The long run began its race for Browne on this record with the aid of Wright; the incomparable pianist/composer/producer Dave Grusin (who co-produced); first-rate-bassists Francisco Centeno and the illustrious Marcus Miller (the latter of whom wrote the alternately mellow and funky "Herbal Scent"); acclaimed saxophonist Michael Brecker, versatile vocalist Patti Austin, and underrated drummer Buddy Williams, just to name a few stellar names on the eight-tunes project. Because of its mix of ballads and mid-tempo funk, "Browne Sugar" was definitely a record that established the trumpet ace's (also a flugelhornist) own musical identity. It placed Browne front and center as a leader and not as a bystander on his own record. Speaking of his own musical identity, Browne's composition, "Promises for Spring," is another tune that possessed that gentle, late-night aura that would be heard on Quiet Storm radio. It's just the kind of record that would become the template for contemporary jazz--radio-friendly, breezy tunes laced with R&B overtones with jazz inflections. The album had great flow without any selections that would prompt listeners to skip to the next track. Even in the present musical soundscape, there are few trumpet-led projects that embrace the distinctive sound of Browne's. It's a classy, stylish debut that sounds just as rich and melodic in 2020 as it did in 1979. Cheers to Tom Browne and to the musicians who have made Browne Sugar a sonic gem! ~ Liz Goodwin, SmoothVibes.com. 

GRP Records, GRP 5003, 1979
GRP Records, GRP-D-9517, 1991
Recorded and Mixed 1979 At A&R Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Tom Browne - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxophone
Phil Bodner - Horn
Eddie Daniels - Horn
Walter Kane - Horn
David Tofani - Horn
Dave Grusin - Piano [Electric], Clavinet, Moog Synthesizer, Oberheim Synthesizers, Organ, Percussion, Synthesizer
Rob Mounsey - Oberheim Synthesizer, Organ, Synthesizer
Bernard Wright - Piano, Piano [Electric]
Ron Miller   - Guitar [Electric]
Marcus Miller - Bass [Electric]
Francisco Centeno - Bass [Electric]
Buddy Williams - Drums
Sue Evans - Congas, Percussion
Errol Crusher Bennett - Congas, Percussion
Patti Austin - Vocals
Vivian Cherry - Vocals
Frank Floyd - Vocals
Zachary Sanders - Vocals
+ Strings Ensemble 

Tracks:
1. Throw Down {Tom Browne} (3:58)
2. I Never Was A Cowboy {Don Grusin} (4:24)
3. Herbal Scent {Tom Browne} (5:25)
4. Brother, Brother {Denzil Miller} (5:32)
5. The Closer I Get To You {Reggie Lucas, James Mtume} (4:38)
6. What's Going On {Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye} (5:09)
7. Promises For Spring {Tom Browne} (4:50)
8. Antoinette Like {Bernard Wright} (3:38) 

Total Time: 37:34 

Credits:
Producer, Conductor, Arranger, Liner Notes - Dave Grusin
Producer, Engineer, Liner Notes - Larry Rosen
GRP Production Coordinator - Peter Lopez
Recording Engineer - Jim Boyer
Recording Assistant - Peter Lewis
Recording & Mixing Assistant - Bradshaw Leigh
Mastering Engineer - Ted Jensen [Sterling Sound, NYC]
Digital Remastering - Josiah Gluck [The Review Room, NYC]
Editing & Formatting - N.Y. Digital Recording
GRP Creative Director, Art Design - Andy Baltimore
Art Direction - Dan Serrano
Photography - Mario Astorga

Earl Klugh - Finger Paintings (1977)

This might be one of Earl's greatest albums whereby the intricacies and yet simple music only Earl can produce. The music in the album ranges from slow heartbreaking "Christina" to finger snapping "Cabo Frio". The arrangements in "summer song" is nice. His renditions of Dance with Me, This Time (another great song from a great jazz artist, Al Jarreau),John Taylor's "Long ago and far away" are timeless classics! ~ C. Tongol, Amazon.com

I've been listening to Earl Klugh for over 30 years and this is one of my favorites. Great for dedicated listening and for just having in the background, very accessible and relaxing. ~ ejr1953, Amazon.com

Blue Note; BN-LA737-H, 1977

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, UDCD 549, 1991

Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California

Personnel:

Earl Klugh - Acoustic Guitar

Dave Grusin - Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer, Percussion (#5,6)

Lee Ritenour - Electric Guitar (#1-3,5,9), 12-String Guitar (#9)

Chuck Findley, Dick Hyde, Jack Nimitz, Jerome Richardson, Tom Scott, Lawrence Williams - Horns

Anthony Jackson - Electric Bass (#1-3,5,9)

Louis Johnson - Electric Bass (#4,6,7)

Francisco Centeno - Electric Bass (#8)

Harvey Mason - Drums (#2,3,5,9)

Steve Gadd - Drums (#1,4,6-8)

Ralph MacDonald - Percussion (#1,2,7,9)

Steve Forman - Percussion (#3,4,8)

Arnold Belnick, Pamela Goldsmith, Endre Granat, Allan Harshman, Karen Jones, Jacob Krachmalnick, Bernard Kundell,

Edgar Lustgarten, David Montagu, Constance Pressman, Dana L. Rees, Sheldon Sanov, Marshall Sosson, Ann M. Stockton, and Gerald Vince - Strings

Alexandra Brown, Lisa Roberts, Stephanie Spruill - Vocals (#4)

Dave Grusin - Arranger, Conductor

Tom Scott - Arranger [Horns] (#4)

Tracks:

1. Dr. Macumba {Earl Klugh} (4:26)

2. Long Ago And Far Away {James Taylor} (5:36)

3. Cabo Frio {Earl Klugh} (3:32)

4. Keep Your Eyes On The Sparrow{Dave Grusin, Morgan Ames} (4:40)

5. Catherine {Earl Klugh} (4:11)

6. Dance With Me {Johanna Hall, John Joseph Hall} (3:26)

7. Jolanta {Earl Klugh} (3:02)

8. Summer Song {Earl Klugh} (4:09)

9. This Time {Earl Klugh} (3:41)

Credits:

Producer - Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen

Executive-Producer - Dr. George Butler

Recording & Mixing Engineer - Larry Rosen

Mastering Engineer - John Golden

Recording [Strings & Horns] - Phil Schier

Photography - Greg Heisler

Design - Bill Burks

Notes:

"Summer Song" recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York

Strings recorded at Columbia Studios, 30th Street, New York