Ernie Watts - Sanctuary (1986)

This Qwest project was a typical crossover project for Ernie Watts, who recorded a series of commercial sets for Elektra and Qwest. The rhythms are danceable; Watts displays attractive tones on tenor, alto, and soprano; the supporting cast includes top L.A. studio musicians; Don Grusin contributes keyboards and electronic rhythms; among the many vocalists are Larry Williams and Phil Perry; and guitarist Lee Ritenour pops up on a few numbers. Ernie Watts would soon start recording more creative jazz and start to realize his potential, which is largely wasted on this effort. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

 

Qwest Records, 9 25513-1, 1986
Recorded at Monterey Sound Studios, Glendale, California;
and Additional at Starlight Studio, Malibu, California. 

Musicians:
Ernie Watts - Alto (#A1,A3,B1,B3), Soprano (#A2,B1), Tenor (#A2,A4,B2,B4)
Larry Williams - Synth Voice (#A1), Funny Horns (#A2), Horse Hoofs (#A3),
Synth Horn (#B1), Synth Strings (#B4), Vocals [Background]
Don Grusin - Keyboards, Drum & Synthesizer Programming, Vocal Arranger
Lee Ritenour - Guitar (#A1,A3,B2)
Carlos Rios - Guitar (#A2,B3)
Abraham Laboriel, Sr. - Bass (#A4,B2)
Nathan East - Bass (#B1)
John Robinson - Drums (#A1-A3,B3)
Carlos Vega - Drums (#A4,B1)
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion (#A1,A2,B2)
Alex Acuña - Drums (#B2), Percussion (#B2,B4)
Phil Perry - Vocals (#A2,A4,B3), Background Vocals (#A1), Arranger [Vocals]
Kevin Dorsey, Aladrain Elmore, Roy Galloway, Siedah Garrett, Kate Markowitz,
Lillain Tynes Perry, Darryl Phinnessee, Oren Waters - Background Vocals 

Tracks:
A1. Taj {Don Grusin} (4:11)
A2. She Feels Good {Don Grusin} (3:53)
A3. Cowboy Dreams {Don Grusin} (4:22)
A4. Homeland {Phil Perry, Don Grusin} (4:55)
B1. Chinook {Don Grusin} (5:30)
B2. Sanctuary {Ernie Watts} (5:20)
B3. City Speak {Don Grusin} (4:18)
B4. The Peace Offering {Ernie Watts} (3:22) 

Total Time: 35:51 

Credits:
Producer - Ernie Watts
Producer, Mixing [Digital], Arranger - Don Grusin
Executive-Producer - Quincy Jones
Recording Engineer, Mixing [Digital] - Geoff Gillette
Additional Engineering - Don Murray
Assistant Engineer, Digital Mixing - Stan Katayama
Assistant Engineer - Terry Bower
Mastering - Wally Traugott
Art Direction, Design - Gabrielle Raumberger 

"Deep within our souls is a place of peace and love,
where there is no hate, no war, no competition.
This is our true homeland - our sanctuary of the heart."

Alphonse Mouzon - Mind Transplant (1974)

Amazing Jazz Fusion
Drummers Alphonse Mouzon and Billy Cobham led almost parallel careers during the 1970s and helped to raise the bar by which all subsequent drummers were to be judged. They were both in legendary fusion bands (Mouzon in Weather Report and Larry Coryell's Eleventh House and Cobham in Dreams and the Mahavishnu Orchestra), both led their own successful bands, both reinvented jazz-rock drumming, and both released one classic, genre-defining recording. Cobham's classic was Spectrum, a recording that is regularly considered as one of the genre's best. This, Mind Transplant, is Mouzon's classic recording that is often hailed as "Spectrum II." The common thread, besides the aggressive drumming, is guitarist Tommy Bolin. Where Cobham used Bolin's aggressive playing as a counterpoint to Jan Hammer, Mouzon features the guitarist as the primary attraction. The tunes themselves may not be as memorable as, say, "Red Baron" or "Stratus," but the playing is no less inspired. Mouzon and Bolin are a natural fit and push themselves to levels of creativity and skill that few can attain. Raw and powerful, the music herein is what made fusion such a viable musical style. This recording has never been as popular as Spectrum, but was finally released on CD in 1993 with the addition of the 15-minute jam session "The Real Thing." Easily one of the best fusion recordings of all time. http://harukimurakami.livejournal.com/ 

Recorded 4th (#2,5,7), 5th (#6), 6th (#3,8) and 9th & 10th (#1,3) December, 1974
At Wally Heider Sound Studio III, Los Angeles, California 

Blue Note, BN-LA398-G, 1975
Capitol Records, 7243 8183652 1, 2003 

Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon - Drums, Vocals, ARP 2600 Synth, Fender Rhodes, Farfisa Organ
Jerry Peters - Fender Rhodes Piano, Organ [Hammond B-3]
Jay Graydon - Guitar, ARP 2600 Synthesizer Programming
Tommy Bolin - Guitar
Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Henry Davis – Bass 

Tracks:
A1. Mind Transplant (4:05)
Soloist: Alphonse Mouzon - Synthesizer, Drums
A2. Snow Bound (3:06)
A3. Carbon Dioxide (4:39)
Soloists: Tommy Bolin - Guitar; Jerry Peters - Organ
A4. Ascorbic Acid (3:27)
Soloists: Jay Graydon, Lee Ritenour
B1. Happiness Is Loving You (4:09)
Soloist: Lee Ritenour
B2. Some Of The Things People Do (3:41)
Soloist: Lee Ritenour
B3. Golden Rainbows (6:56)
Soloist: Tommy Bolin
B4. Nitroglycerin (3:05)
Soloist: Tommy Bolin 

Composed by Elvena Mouzon 

Credits:
Producer - Skip Drinkwater
Co-producer, Arranger, Conductor - Alphonse Mouzon
Executive-Producer - George Butler
Engineer - Gabby Garcia
Assistant Engineer - Brian Ingalls, Gary Lubow
Remix & Mastering Engineer - Fred Catero
Mastering Engineer - George Horn
Art Direction - Lloyd Ziff, Bob Cato
Photography - Doug Metzler
Design - Ria Lewerke

Patti Austin - Love Is Gonna Getcha (1990)

With apologies to Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin has always quite simply been the best jack-of-all-genre singers on the planet, crossing effortlessly from jazz to pop and R&B with a voice that's so sweet, rich, and lovely, it can't help but warm the heart. On the heels of her 1988 masterpiece The Real Me, her GRP debut packs a wallop of festive up-tempo tunes, lite funk pop, torchy message songs, passionate ballads, and breezy tenderness -- all delivered with a truly Austin-tatious flair. Austin surrounds herself with some of pop jazz's best here, with GRP's 1990 roster well represented: Dave Grusin (whose production is flawless), Don Grusin (with whom she co-wrote the happy "Ooh Wee [The Carnival]"), Deborah Henson-Conant (whose harp adds punch to "In My Dreams"), Lee Ritenour, and Nelson Rangell (whose alto soars on the title cut). But as tantalizing as the music is, it is Austin who gives the collection wings with a powerful voice whose mood she so artfully modulates depending on the feel of the individual tune. Soft and tender on her own composition "In My Life," easy and lilting for "In My Dreams," and full of genuine excitement for "Through the Test of Time" and "Ooh Wee." An added bonus is the Oscar nominated "The Girl Who Used to Be Me," which gives Austin a chance to show her range, even if the tune is a bit schmaltzy. ~ by Jonathan Widran, AMG. 

GRP Records, GRD-9603, 1990
Recorded At Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood, California 

Personnel:
Patti Austin - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Vocal Arrangements
Dave Grusin - Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Harmonica,
Rhythm & Vocal Arrangements, Vocals [Background]
Nelson Rangell - Alto Saxophone
Ernie Watts - Tenor Saxophone
David Paich - Keyboards, Synthesizer, Arranger
Greg Phillinganes - Piano
Steve Porcaro - Synthesizer
Michael Landau, Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Nathan East, Neil Stubenhaus - Bass
Deborah Henson-Conant - Harp
Harvey Mason - Drums
Paulinho Da Costa, Lenny Castro, Michael Fisher, Jeff Porcaro - Percussion
Robin Beck, Shelton Becton, Jocelyn Brown, Bill Eaton, Lani Groves,
Casey Sissik, James "D-Train" Williams - Vocals [Background] 

Strings:
David Nadien - Concert Master, Violin
Elena Barere, Arnold Eidus, Barry Finclair, Regis Iandiorio, Charles Libove, Louann Montesi, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Richard Sortomme, Marti Sweet, Gerald Tarack - Violin
Jean R. Dane, Carol Landon, Sue Pray - Viola
Charles McCracken, Richard Locker - Cello 

Tracks:
01. Through The Test Of Time {David Pack, Jeff Pescetto} (5:07)
02. Too Soon To Know {Lorraine Feather, Michael McDonald, David Pack} (4:23)
03. In My Life {Patti Austin} (4:04)
04. Love Is Gonna Getcha {Lou Pardini, Alan Scott, Reed Vertelney} (5:04)
05. Ooh-Whee [The Carnival] {Patti Austin, Don Grusin} (5:41)
06. Believe The Children {Lyn Laboriel, Lou Pardini, Abraham Laboriel, Sr.} (5:36)
07. Good In Love {Robin Batteau, François Eckart, Jeff Southworth} (4:38)
08. Wait For Me {Don Grusin, Kate Markowitz, Christina Trulio} (5:26)
09. First Time Love {Patti Austin, Dave Grusin, Harvey Mason, Sr.} (5:31)
10. In My Dream {Eddie Arkin, Edward Arkin, Beckie Foster} (5:09)
11. The Girl Who Used To Be Me {Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch} (4:16) 

Total Time: 54:55 

Credits:
Producer, Executive Producer, Liner Notes - Dave Grusin
Executive Producer, Producer - Larry Rosen
Producer - David Paich
Production Coordination - Suzanne Sherman
Production Assistant - Barbara Hein
Engineer - Bill Cooper, Tom Knox, Ed Rak, Bob Schaper
Assistant Engineer, Engineer - Matthew "Boomer" La Monica, Joe Martin, Brian Soucy
Engineer, Mixing - Don Murray
Mixing Assistant - Elaine Anderson
Digital Editing - Mike Landy, Robert Vosgien
Mastering - Wally Traugott
Creative Director - Andy Baltimore
Photography - Richard Corman
Graphic Design - David Gibb, Jacki McCarthy, Andy Ruggirello, Dan Serrano
Liner Notes - Patti Austin

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

David "Fathead" Newman - Keep The Dream Alive (1978)

An overlooked Jazz-Funk/Soul Jazz classic from the late seventies. As a profoundly versatile musician and composer “Fathead” showcases his agility on flute, alto, tenor and soprano. With the crafty arrangements of William Fischer, Newman turns an interesting mix of well-known pop compositions and other less exposed and challenging tunes into prodigious music. For this album Newman is joined by a sterling array of fine players. With the likes of George Cables, Hilton Ruiz, Lee Ritenour, Wilbur Bascomb Jr., Idris Muhammad the listener is in for an enthusiastic piece of entertainment that doesn’t falter, Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PR 10106, 1978

Recorded 23^rd May-July, 1977 at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California

Musicians:

David "Fathead" Newman - Flute (#A1,A3,B3), Alto Saxophone (#A1,B2,B3),
Tenor Saxophone (#A2-A4), Soprano Saxophone (#B1)

Jeff Davis, Larry Moses - Trumpets

Janice Robinson, Earl McIntyre - Trombones

Ed Xiques - Baritone Saxophone

Kenneth Harris - Flute

George Cables - Electric Rhodes (#A3,A2,B1), Clavinet (#A1,A2),

Acoustic Piano (#A4,B2) Electric Piano [Yamaha Grand] (#B3)

Hilton Ruiz - Electric Rhodes (#A1,B2,B3), Clavinet (#A4,B1), Acoustic Piano (#A2,A3)

Lee Ritenour - Guitar (#A3,B1-B3)

George Davis - Guitar

Wilbur Bascomb, Jr. - Electric Bass

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Bill Summers - Percussion (Except #B1)

Yvonne Fletcher - Vocals

Renee Manning - Vocals (Except #A2)

William Fischer - Conductor

Tracks:

A1. Keep The Dream Alive {David "Fathead" Newman} (5:37)

A2. Destiny {David Batteau, Richard Holland} (4:47)

A3. Silver Morning {Kenny & Yvonne Rankin} (3:30)

A4. Freaky Beat {David "Fathead" Newman, William Fischer} (5:37)

B1. I Am Singing {Stevie Wonder} (6:30)

B2. Clouds {Durval Ferreira, Maurício Einhorn} (5:57)

B3. As Good As You Are {William Fischer} (6:18)

Credits:

Producer - Orrin Keepnews

Producer, Arranger - William Fischer

Recording Engineer - Eddie Bill Harris

Recording & Remix Engineer - Steve Williams

Assistant & Remix Engineer - Dan Kopelson

Mastering Engineer - John Golden

Art Direction - Phil Carroll

Photography - Phil Bray

Design - Dennis Gassner