Joe Sample returns to the smooth jazz style of his popular albums Rainbow Seeker, Carmel, and Voices in the Rain on 1983's The Hunter. The keyboardist fills up a studio with like-minded session musicians including trumpeter Tom Browne, horn players Chuck Findley, Jerry Hey, and Ernie Watts, guitarists Dean Parks, David Spinozza, and Phil Upchurch, bassists Abraham Laboriel and Marcus Miller, percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, and drummer Steve Gadd, and sets them loose on some rhythmic tracks with a rock/R&B feel. The beat is paramount, a constant augmented by funky, popping basslines, with guitar solos and horn charts overlaid. And, weaving in and out is Sample, on either acoustic or electric piano, finding room to solo extensively. The solos are more of the rock variety than what a conventional jazz fan would recognize, since they are anchored to the relentless beats. But Sample is one of the more accomplished players in smooth jazz, and his sidemen are able to support him and, when given the chance, match him in their playing. ~ by William Ruhlmann, AMG.
MCA Records, MCAD-1471, 1983
Recorded at Sound Recorders, Hollywood
and Salty Dog Studios, L.A., CA;
Except ‘The Hunter’ at A
& R Studios, New York, N.Y.
Musicians:
Joe Sample - Keyboards
[Acoustic], Electric Piano, Synthesizer
Tom Browne - Trumpet [Lead],
Soloist (#1)
Bill Reichenbach, Chuck
Findley, Dick Hyde, Ernie Watts,
Jerry Hey, Larry Williams, Steve Madaio - Horns (#1,3-6)
John Phillips - Woodwinds
(#2), Bass Clarinet, Soloist (#6)
Rory Kaplan - Programming
[Synthesizers]
Galen Senogles - Synthesizer
[Overdubs]
David Spinozza - Guitar (#1)
Phil Upchurch - Guitar,
Soloist (#3)
Dean Parks - Guitar (#2-4,6),
Soloist (#5), Rhythm Guitar (#5)
Marcus Miller - Bass (#1)
Abraham Laboriel - Bass
(#2-6)
Steve Gadd - Drums (#1)
Bob Wilson - Drums (#2-6)
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion
Tracks:
1. The Hunter (5:48)
2. Blue Ballet (4:09)
3. Beauty And The Beast
(6:29)
4. Wings Of Fire (5:25)
5. Just A Little Higher
(5:32)
6. Night Flight (9:00)
All compositions by Joe Sample
Total Time: 36:26
Credits:
Producer - Joe Sample, Wilton
Felder
Executive Assistant - Tom
Hooper
Recording Engineer - Jim
Boyer (#1)
Recording & Mixing (#2) Engineer
- Rik Pekkonen
Mixing - Galen Senogles, Wilton
Felder (#1,3-6)
Mastering Engineer - Bernie
Grundman [A&M Studios]
Coordinator - Pamela H.
Lobue, Robin Howell
Art Direction - George Osaki
Painting [Cover] - Laddia
Holly
