Miroslav Vitous - Guardian Angels (1979)

"Guardian Angels" showcases the comprehensive talent of virtuoso bassist, Miroslav Vitous. It puts on full display his incredible talent on electric and acoustic basses (with and without bow). One of the things that I thoroughly enjoy about this music is that it dispels the claim, attributed to former band mate and co-founder of Weather Report, Josef Zawinul, that Vitous couldn’t bring the “bottom”. On every track here, he brings it. ~ Matt Seahorn, Amazon.com. 

As a big Miroslav Vitous fan, this album is extremely satisfying outing and captures a late 70s snapshot of fusion. To start, it features a future member of his group, Kenny Kirkland, on keyboards, John Scofield sounds great on guitar and brings two originals. It also features two Japanese members who Miroslav made a few albums with; George Otsuka on drums and Mabumi Yamaguchi is on soprano sax, who were involved in two Maracaibo albums, the album Mabumi, and keyboardist Fumio Karashima's Hot Island. I'd recommend the original Evidence edition of this album, it's affordable and has great liner notes recalling first-hand details from the recording. Enjoy! ~ Frank G, Amazon.com. 

Trio Records, PAP-9154, 1979
Evidence Records, ECD 22055, 1993
Recorded 9th, 10th, 11th November, 1978 At Onkio Haus, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Miroslav Vitous - Bass, Electric Bass, Synthesizer [Mini-Moog, Solina String-Ensemble]
Mabumi Yamaguchi - Soprano Saxophone
Kenny Kirkland - Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes, Yamaha CP-70 [Electric Grand],
Synthesizer [Yamaha CS-50 (Polyphonic), Mini-Moog]
John Scofield - Guitar
George Ohtsuka - Drums [Yamaha] 

Tracks:
1. His Meaning / Rising / Resolution {Miroslav Vitous} (8:38)
2. Inner Peace {Kenny Kirkland} (6:10)
3. Guardian Angels {Miroslav Vitous} (5:54)
4. Off To Buffalo {John Scofield} (7:52)
5. Eating It Raw {John Scofield} (6:15)
6. Shinkansen {Kenny Kirkland} (6:11) 

Total Time: 40:03 

Credits:
Producer, Engineer - David Baker
Producer - Ken Inaoka
Music Director - Miroslav Vitous
Engineer [Assistant] - Takashi Ogawa
Production Coordinator - Kaz Harada
Management – Hiroaki Itoh, Mamoru Kamekawa
Photography - Shigeru Uchiyama, Yasuhisa Yoneda
Design - Breakfast 

This is another example of the type of 'fusion' that was going on in NYC in the late 70's. It was popular then for Japanese artists to hire the top guys on the scene, make a record and be big stars in their home country. This CD is cool in that we hear a young Kenny Kirkland burning on electric keyboards. Kenny was 'the cat' to be reckoned with at this time. Scofield sounds good here too, although he sounds better on Chet Baker's 'can't go home again' and his own CD 'Live', also 'Rough House' which I think were recorded around the same time. The music is basically, pentatonic scales or whatever, played in unison really fast then solos: either up-tempo samba vamps or medium tempo funk groove. It's OK I guess...if you are a Kirkland or Scofield fan. ~ Wes Green, Amazon.com.

Steps Ahead - Magnetic (1986)

Released in the mid-80's, it has the era's sound and feel, a mix of pomp rock, synth-orchestral fills with polished soloing mixed into the whole. The talented jazz musicians who appear on the album I believe give credence to my statement. The first track, 'Trains' is a bombastic synth-driven tune, with Peter Erskine's solid drum patterns providing a rock beat as a typically fine and multiplied sax solo from Mike Brecker and squealing solo from Hiram Bullock's guitar provide two high points among the pomp. It promises much, yet by itself would be enough. 'Beirut', the next track, keeps the momentum going with an understated yet funky bass line from Victor Bailey, with unsettling synth phrasing and a solo from Mike Mainieri bringing the 8-minute track to a brash close. 'Cajun' follows, a straight-up be-bop rhythm with underlying banjo plucking from Peter Schwimmer and Mainieri's vibes helping to drive it along; while Brecker's mid-point solo develops into a surprising big band sax section. Next is 'In A Sentimental Mood', the Duke Ellington staple played electronically, and this leads into the track 'Magnetic Love', the one possibly created as a single, though sounding like the track for the closing credits of one of those 80's films we endured because it was all that was left in the video store. Let's move on. 'Sumo' comes next, a quirkily funky track with elements reminiscent of the Brecker skunk-funk sound. It grows on you while grating at the same time. 'All The Tea In China' is a richer sounding tune, the ensemble easing you into the penultimate track; 'Something I Said', a slow, lilting tune dominated by Brecker's sax, freed from any electronic alteration, and Mainieri's synthi-vibes. Bailey's bass provides a rumbling counterpoint to the poignant sax and mellow vibes. The last track 'Reprise (Magnetic Love)' eases in, with Brecker's sax playing over the track. It lasts just over a minute (way too short!) And closes the album. ~ Johnny L, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. 

Elektra Musician, 960 441-2, 1986
#1,6: Recorded at Bear Tracks Studios & Electric Lady Studios, New York
#2,3,8: Recorded at Skyline Studios, New York
#4,5,9: Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York
#7: Recorded at Plant Sound, New York 

Personnel:
Mike Mainieri - Synthi-vibe (#1,2,3,6,8), Vibes (#7), Keyboards (#1,2,4), Synthesizers (#5,9)
Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxophone (#1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9), Steiner EWI (#1,3,4,6,7),
Oberheim Xpande (#2,3,4,7)
Chuck Loeb - Electric Guitar (#1,2,3,6,7,8), Acoustic Guitar (#1), Guitar Synthesizer (#1,2,3,6)
Victor Bailey - Bass (#1,2,3,6,7,8)
Peter Erskine - Drums (#1,2,3,6,8), Percussion (#1,2,6,7), Synthesizers (#7,8) 

Additional Musicians
See details in Archive 

Tracks:
1. Trains {Mike Mainieri} (7:30)
2. Beirut {Michael Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Mike Mainieri} (8:17)
3. Cajun {Michael Brecker} (6:18)
4. In A Sentimental Mood {Ellington, Kurtz, Mills} (3:33)
5. Magnetic Love {Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin} (5:35)
6. Sumo {Michael Brecker} (5:52)
7. All The Tea In China {Peter Erskine} (5:06)
8. Something I Said {Peter Erskine} (4:13)
9. Magnetic Love [Reprise] {Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin} (1:25) 

Total Time: 47:54

Credits:
Producer - Mike Mainieri, George Duke
Engineers - Malcolm Pollack, Neil Dorfsman, Rick Kerr, James Farber,
Joe Barbaria, Jay Rifkin, Andrew Heermans
Engineer [Assistants] - Jamie Chaleff, Ken Steiger, Rick Begin, Scott Ansell,
Bridget Daly, Robin Lane, Kevin Killian, Tim Purvis
Mixing - Malcolm Pollack, James Farber, Michel Sauvage,
Michael Brauer, Tom Lord-Alge

In A Sentimental Mood

Kenny Kirkland - Kenny Kirkland (1991)

Keyboardist Kenny Kirkland's long-overdue debut as a leader really stretches his talents and is occasionally unpredictable. Virtually each of the performances has its own personality and the personnel and instrumentation differ throughout the release. Among the highlights is "Mr. J.C." (which features some stormy Branford Marsalis tenor), an electric Latin but still boppish update of Bud Powell's "Celia" (taken as a duet with percussionist Don Alias), the struttin' "Steepian Faith," a driving rendition of Ornette Coleman's "When Will the Blues Leave" that has some free bop alto from Roderick Ward, and Latin versions (with percussionist Jerry Gonzalez) of two standards not normally thought of as belonging to that idiom: Wayne Shorter's "Ana Maria" and Thelonious Monk's "Criss Cross." This highly recommended CD has more than its share of brilliant moments. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

GRP Records, GRP 96572, 1991
Verve Records, 543 037-2, 1991
Recorded and Mixed At BMG Studios A & B, New York City 

Musicians:
Kenny Kirkland - Piano (#1,2,4,6-10), Keyboards (#5,11)
Branford Marsalis - Tenor Sax (#1,10), Soprano Sax (#2,4,9)
Roderick Ward - Alto Saxophone (#7)
Charnett Moffett - Bass (#1,4,7)
Christian McBride - Bass (#6)
Andy Gonzalez - Bass (#8,10)
Jeff "Tain" Watts - Drums (#1-4,6-8)
Steve Berrios - Drums (#8,10)
Jerry Gonzalez - Percussion, Congas (#8,10)
Don Alias - Percussion (#5,11), Bongos (#8) 

Tracks:
01. Mr. J.C. {Kenny Kirkland} (8:07)
02. Midnight Silence {Kenny Kirkland} (3:33)
03. El Rey {Jeff "Tain" Watts} (1:34)
04. Steepian Faith {Kenny Kirkland} (6:02)
05. Celia {Bud Powell} (6:49)
06. Chance {Kenny Kirkland} (6:01)
07. When Will The Blues Leave? {Ornette Coleman} (5:39)
08. Ana Maria {Wayne Shorter} (8:36)
09. Revelations {Kenny Kirkland} (7:48)
10. Criss Cross {Thelonious Monk} (5:19)
11. Blasphemy {Kenny Kirkland} (3:04) 

Total Time: 62:36

Credits:
Producer - Kenny Kirkland
Producer, Digital Editing - Delfeayo Marsalis
Recording, Mixing - Patrick "Jatty Q" Smith
Digital Editing - Michael Landy
Mastering - Ted Jensen
Graphic Design - Sonny Mediana
Liner Notes - Branford Marsalis

Carlos Garnett - Cosmos Nucleus (1976) [re-rip>true flac]

Carlos Garnett's fourth album on Muse Records.

Carlos Garnett really finds his own sound here - and steps into a wonderful blend of funky riffs, spiritual styles, and more – all in one of the most ambitious albums he cut during the 70s! There's a really expansive blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation going on here – played by a large ensemble, but one that's got a nicely focused feel – a groove that really pushes the sound of Garnett's other records with its wide instrumentation, yet which still has all the punch and power of before! Carlos brings in a few slight Caribbean touches – elements he'd experimented with a bit before – and the lineup includes Kenny Kirkland on Fender Rhodes, Roy Campbell and Abdul Malik on trumpets, Al Brown and Charles Dougherty on also sax, Zane Massey and Akum Ra Amen Ra on tenor, Andrew Washington and Cliff Anderson on trombone, Otis McCleary on guitar, Cecil McBee on bass, and Neil Clark and Gene Ballard on percussion. Cheryl P Alexander Sings soulfully at one great spot – the stunning "Mystery Of Ages", which almost feels like a Oneness Of Juju cut – and other titles include "Cosmos Nucleus", "Wise Old Men", "Kafira" and "Bed-Stuy Blues". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Muse Records, MR 5104, 1976
Recorded June & July 1976 at Dimensional Sound, New York City

Track Listing:

A1. Saxy (5:24)
[Solo] Carlos Garnett
A2. Cosmos Nucleus (12:21)
[Solos] Carlos Garnett, Angel Fernandez, Kenny Kirkland
A3. Wise Old Man (5:16)
[Solos] Angel Fernandez, Carlos Garnett
B1. Mystery Of Ages (7:09)
[Solos] Cheryl P. Alexander, Andrew Washington, Kenny Kirkland
B2. Kafira (7:32)
[Solo] Carlos Garnett
B3. Bed-Stuy Blues (8:13)
[Solos] Al Brown, Wayne Cobham, Zane Massey, James Stowe

All Compositions by Carlos Garnett

Personnel:
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Ukulele, Vocals - Carlos Garnett
Alto Saxophone - Al Brown, Charles Dougherty, Robert Wright
Baritone Saxophone, Ukulele - Carlos Chambers
Tenor Saxophone - Akum Ra Amen-Ra, Randy Gilmore, Yah Ya, Zane Massey
Trombone - Andrew Washington, Cliff Anderson, James Stowe
Trumpet - Abdul Malik, Angel Fernandez, Cyril Greene, Preston Holas, Quentin Lowther, Roy Campbell, Wayne Cobham
Electric Piano - Kenny Kirkland
Guitar - Otis McCleary
Bass - Cecil McBee, Jr.
Drums - Byron Benbow
Bongos, Percussion - Gene Ballard
Congas, Percussion - Neil Clarke
Vocals - Cheryl P. Alexander

Credits:
Producer - Carlos Garnett
Assistant Producer - Fred Seibert
Recording Engineer - Tom Foy
Assistant Engineer - Mark Finn
Cover Art, Photo Liner Design - Ron Warwell
Liner Notes - Alan Goodman