Idris Muhammad - House Of The Rising Sun (1976) [vinyl>flac]

Idris Muhammad's House of the Rising Sun is a legendary soul-jazz album, and for good reason. First there's the fact that, Grady Tate notwithstanding, Idris Muhammad is easily the greatest of all soul-jazz drummers. Next, it is revealed that label boss and producer Creed Taylor was at his most inspired here, and wasn't afraid to err on the rhythm and blues side of the jazz equation. The material is top-notch, and David Matthews, who orchestrated and arranged this date with the exception of one track -- "Sudan" was written by Muhammad and Tom Harrell, and Harrell arranged it -- was on fire. As a bandleader, Muhammad is shockingly effective. Not because one could ever doubt his ability, but because of his reputation as one of the great studio drummers in jazz. Finally, this is the single greatest lineup in Kudu's history, and features the talents of Don Grolnick, Eric Gale, Will Lee, Roland Hanna, Joe Beck, David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, Hugh McCracken, Bob Berg, Fred Wesley, Patti Austin, and a dozen others playing their asses off. From the title track which opens the album, with Austin reaching the breaking point in her delivery, to the stunningly funky groove in Ashford and Simpson's "Hard to Face the Music," to the minor key funk of the Chopin-adapted theme in "Theme for New York City," to "Sudan"'s triple-timed drums and killer Eastern-tinged hooks, and a read of the Meters' "Hey Pocky A-Way," with Eric Gale's dirty finger poppin' bass atop McCracken's bluesed-out slide work, this is a steaming, no let-up album. Add to this a gorgeous version of the Ary Barroso Brazilian jazz classic "Bahia," and you have the set for a classic jazz album. But the complete disregard for the political correctness of "Jazz" itself, in order to get the deeply funky and soulful grooves across, is what makes this set so damn special and even spiritual in its inspiration. Jazz purists lost all credibility when they slagged this one off, caught as they were in tainted, even racist views of the past that made no allowances for jazz musicians to actually follow their time-honored tradition of mining the pop music of the day to extend the breadth and reach of jazz itself. Anybody who wants to believe that George Gershwin is somehow more important than George Porter Jr. is already lost in his own cultural fascism. Muhammad, who understands this better than anyone, pulled out all the stops here and blasted out one amazingly tough, funky slab. Brilliant. ~ Thom Jurek, AMG.

Kudu Records, KUDU 27, KU-27S1, 1976
Recorded 18th-27th June; 23rd September-8th October, 1975
at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:
Idris Muhammad - Drums, Percussion [Log Drum] (#A1)
Tom Harrell - Trumpet
Fred Wesley - Trombone
Barry Rogers - Trombone (#B1)
David Sanborn - Alto Saxophone
Ronnie Cuber - Baritone Saxophone
George Young - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)
Mike Brecker - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)
Bob Berg - Tenor Saxophone (#B1)
Leon Pendarvis - Piano (#A1)
Don Grolnick - Piano (#A2,A3,B2)
Roland Hanna - Piano (#B1,A4)
Eric Gale - Bass (#A3,B2), Guitar (#B2)
Hugh McCracken - Guitar (#B2)
Joe Beck - Guitar (#A3)
Will Lee - Bass (#A1)
Wilbur Bascomb - Bass (#A2,A4,B1)
Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, Seymour Barab - Cello
George Devens - Percussion
Charles Libove, David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Cykman, Joe Malin, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman - Violin
Frank Loyd - Vocals (#A1,B2)
Debbie McDuffie, Hilda Harris, Patti Austin - Vocals (#A2)

Track Listing:
A1. House Of The Rising Sun {Traditional} (4:45)
A2. Baia [Boogie Bump] {Ary Barroso, Ray Gilbert} (4:40)
A3. Hard To Face The Music {Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford} (4:52)
A4. Theme For New York City [Based On Prelude No. 4] {Frederic Chopin} (3:29)
B1. Sudan {Idris Muhammad, Tom Harrell} (10:54)
B2. Hey Pocky A-Way {Ziggy Modeliste, Art Neville, Leo Nocenteli, George Porter, Jr.} (6:07)

Credits:
Producer - Creed Taylor
Arranger - David Matthews, Tom Harrell (#B1)
Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder
Design - Rene Schumacher
Photography - Alen Mac Weeney

Rusty Bryant - For The Good Times (1973) [vinyl>flac]

One of Rusty Bryant's last albums for Prestige - recorded in that more-electric mode that graced the label's albums of the year 1973 - but in a style that's still pretty darn nice! The group's still a small combo - with Rusty on tenor and alto, plus with Hank Jones on electric piano, and the twin guitars of Joe Beck and Hugh McCracken. The rhythm team of Tony Levin and Steve Gadd is still pretty tight too - and there's some nice numbers on the set that cook with a warm electric soul jazz groove. Titles include the mellow "Theme From Deep Throat", a nice soundtrack groover, plus "The Last One Out", "Night In Tunisia", "Killing Me Softly", and "Appalachian Green". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

This album finds Bryant combining pop and soul-jazz with the aid of electric pianos and funky guitars. Things get started with tepid versions of the title track and Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song," both veering dangerously close to Muzak territory. The pieces are salvaged, however, by Joe Beck and Hugh McCracken's guitar work and Hank Jones' steady hand at the keyboards. Bryant turns in his best solo on a groovy version of "Theme From Deep Throat" that's propelled forward by bassist Tony Levin and drummer Steve Gadd. The album provides a backward glance at the strange world of jazz circa 1973. It also offers a chance to hear Bryant cut loose on a number of popular songs. ~ by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., AMG.

Prestige Records, P 10073, 1973

Recorded 9^th March, 1973 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Rusty Bryant - Tenor & Alto Saxophones

Hank Jones - Electric Piano

Joe Beck - Guitar

Hugh McCracken - Guitar

Tony Levin - Bass, Electric Bass

Steve Gadd - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. For The Good Times {Kris Kristofferson} (5:02)

A2. Killing Me Softly {Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox} (5:29)

A3. The Last One Out {Rusty Bryant} (6:22)

B1. Appalachian Green {Don Hales} (4:57)

B2. A Night In Tunisia {Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli} (5:31)

B3. Looking Through The Eyes Of Love {Billy Barberis} (3:49)

B4. Theme From Deep Throat {Robert Whitaker} (4:25)

Credits:

Producer - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Art Direction - Tony Lane

Photography - Lee Friedlander

Hank Crawford - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (1974) [vinyl>flac]

"Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" by Hank Crawford was released in 1974 on Kudu Records, a subsidiary of the CTI label. On this his fourth Kudu release, Crawford showcases three original compositions alongside two Stevie Wonder tunes; "Don’t You Worry 'Bout A Thing" and “All In Love Is Fair.” Bob James handles the string arrangements and also shares electric keyboards with Richard Tee. James' arrangements don't smother Hank but instead instill a light touch of classiness, perfectly blending Crawford’s rhythm & blues phrasing. Joining him on this date is quite an impressive array of soul-jazz and modern jazz performers, including Pepper Adams, Randy Brecker, Ron Carter, Idris Muhammad, Joe Farrell, Jon Faddis, Bernard Purdie, and Hugh McCracken. As usual it is beautifully engineered by van Gelder; another significant slice of Hank’s discography to immerse even the most discerning jazz aficionado, Enjoy!

Sweet soulful jazz from reedman Hank Crawford - one of his killer Kudu sessions from the 70s - all of which really helped Hank redefine his sound! The setting here is large and full - put together beautifully by Bob James, with that sense of space for the soloist that makes his CTI/Kudu arrangements so crucial - and light years ahead of what other arrangers were doing at the time. The tracks are longish, but never overdone - and the record has all the soulful alto sounds of Crawford's 60s work at Atlantic, but with a definite 70s bent overall. James plays Fender Rhodes, Arp, and clavinet - and other players include Joe Farrell on tenor and flute, Idris Muhammad and Bernard Purdie on drums, and Richard Tee on additional keyboards. Titles include "Jana", "Sho Is Funky", "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", "Groove Junction", and "All In Love Is Fair". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

Kudu Records, KU 19 S1, 1974

Recorded June, 1974 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Hank Crawford - Alto Saxophone

Alan Rubin, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Pepper Adams, Romeo Penque - Baritone Saxophone

Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell - Flute, Tenor Saxophone

Dave Taylor - Bass Trombone

Bob James, Richard Tee - Keyboards

Hugh McCracken - Electric Guitar

Gary King - Bass (#A1-A3,B1)

Ron Carter - Bass (#B2)

Bernard Purdie - Drums (#A1,A3)

Idris Muhammad - Drums (#A2,B1,B2)

Ralph MacDonald - Percussion

Strings:

Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Alexander Cores, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green,
Matthew Raimondi, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien - Violin

Charles McCracken, George Ricci - Cello

Al Brown, Manny Vardi - Viola

Track Listing:

A1. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing {Stevie Wonder} (8:49)

A2. Jana {Hank Crawford} (5:08)

A3. All In Love Is Fair {Stevie Wonder} (4:46)

B1. Sho Is Funky {Hank Crawford, Bob James} (12:41)

B2. Groove Junction {Hank Crawford} (3:32)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Arranger - Bob James

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design - Bob Ciano

Illustration - Pierre Le-Tan