Joe Sample - Rhino Hi-Five (2007)

A fine compilation of Joe Sample tracks selected by Rhino Records as part of their Hi-Five series of digital downloads released in 2007. 

Rhino Records, Digital Download, 2007 

Musicians:
Joe Sample - Piano, Piano [Electric], Keyboards, Synthesizer, Arranger
Larry Williams, Ricky Peterson - Synthesizer
St. Paul, Michael Landau - Guitar
Dean Parks - Guitar [Electric]
Marcus Miller - Bass
Steve Gadd, Omar Hakim - Drums
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Jason Miles, Robbie Buchanan - Programming
Lori Perry, Lynn Davis, Jim Gilstrap - Vocals [Background] 

Tracks:
1. Spellbound {Joe Sample} (4:29)
2. Ashes To Ashes {Joe Sample} (4:53)
3. Invitation {Bronislaw Kaper} (4:21)
4. Stormy Weather {Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler} (5:01)
5. Street Life {Joe Sample} (5:04) 

Total Time: 23:52 

Credits:
Producer - Joe Sample, George Duke, Tommy LiPuma

Joe Sample - The Pecan Tree (2002)

The Pecan Tree is a collection of 11 compositions from master pianist/composer Joe Sample that were inspired by his Southeast Texas roots and influences. As a founding member of the pioneering quartet the Jazz Crusaders and as a solo artist, the pianist has created an impressive musical style based upon his early appreciation for jazz, gospel, soul, bebop, blues, Latin, and classical music. The Pecan Tree features many of those musical genres performed with such special guests as Lenny Castro and Paulinho da Costa on percussion, renowned R&B vocalist Howard Hewett, and newcomer Lizz Wright. Sample's Quintet kicks off the set with the title track, a Latin-tinged mid-tempo instrumental that features Sample's beautiful melodicism in harmony with the percussive mastery of Lenny Castro. The ensemble brings their creativity ingenuity to "Hot and Humid," a sweltering musical story of the region's weather condition. You can literally feel the heat from Sample's fiery piano chops. The soulful voice of Howard Hewett on "With These Hands" also makes this CD entertaining. He envelopes the listener with his gospel-tinged R&B tenor and holds you spellbound throughout this lovely ballad with his powerful range and heartfelt lyricism. The Pecan Tree is an apt tribute in the form of choice songs that describe Sample's true essence as a great musical storyteller and ranks alongside his smash hit Carmel with respect to his ability to deliver musical metaphors through smart phrasing and compelling melodies that reflect local settings. ~  by Paula Edelstein, AMG. 

P.R.A. Records, 314 589 508-2, 2002
Recorded at Bill Schnee Studios, Hollywood, California
Recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, California 

Musicians:
Joe Sample - Piano
Peter Wolf - Synthesizer
Dean Parks - Guitar
Jay Anderson - Bass
Larry Aberman - Drums (#1-4,6,8-11)
James Gadson - Drums (#5,7)
Lenny Castro - Percussion (#1,2,4-6,8-11)
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion (#3,7)
Lizz Wright - Vocals (#3,5)
Howard Hewett - Vocals (#7,9) 

Tracks:
01. The Pecan Tree {Joe Sample} (5:24)
02. Hot And Humid {Joe Sample} (4:39)
03. No One But Myself To Blame {Joe Sample, Jonathan Brooke} (5:16)
04. X Marks The Spot [Marie Laveau] {Joe Sample} (5:11)
05. Fool's Gold {Joe Sample, Jonathan Brooke} (5:20)
06. Spanish Moss {Joe Sample} (5:00)
07. In A Heartbeat {Lauren Wild, Nicklas Sample} (5:00)
08. El Dorado {Joe Sample} (5:14)
09. With These Hands {Abner Silver, Benny Davis} (5:24)
10. The Texas Two Step {Joe Sample} (3:40)
11. Memories {Joe Sample} (3:51) 

Total Time: 54:04 

Credits:
Producer - Joe Sample
Producer, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Bill Schnee
Producer [Assistant] - Jill Heatherly
Engineer [Assistant] - Koji Egawa, Ryan Petrie, Tom Sweeny
Mastering Engineer - Doug Sax
Artwork, Cover Art - Bill Traylor
Art Direction - John Cabalka
Photography - Steven Silverstein 

With These Hands

Randy Crawford - Secret Combination (1981)

It is little wonder that Secret Combination remains Randy Crawford's most successful album in the UK. It is a superb collection of well-chosen material, expertly played by the cream of L.A session players and sung with great conviction. Macon, Georgia-born Crawford had first risen to prominence in the UK as the featured vocalist on the Crusaders' Street Life in 1979, and enjoyed her first solo hit the following year with One Day I'll Fly Away. Secret Combination, released in May 1981, was the album that capitalised on this success. Although Crawford had previously been an earthy jazz singer, Secret Combination barely breaks a sweat. Produced by Tommy LiPuma (the man responsible for turning George Benson from a jazzer into a commercial superstar) and it is consistently pleasant, radio-friendly pop-soul. What bite there is can be found on lead single You Might Need Somebody, a Hollywood-softened dirty blues and the album's closer, Trade Winds. Crawford imbues everything with a honeyed experience - none more so than on the title track where her quiet steadfastness retains the love of the song’s hero. Secret Combination’s covers excel: Crawford's version of Tony Joe White's A Rainy Night In Georgia may lack the despair of Brook Benton's famous reading, but sweetens the longing. That's How Heartaches Are Made (made famous by 'Baby' Washington/the Marvelettes) makes the song's desperation almost playful. In 1981, Secret Combination seemed to be everywhere. It spent 60 weeks on the UK charts and reached No. 2. And in 1982, she won the Best Female Artist award at the Brits on the strength of this record. It remains a delightful time-capsule, perfect for sunny Sunday mornings. ~ Daryl Easlea, 2009, BBC Review. 

Warner Bros., 7599-23541-2, 1990?
Recorded and Mixed at Sound Labs and Capitol Recording, Hollywood 

Personnel:
Randy Crawford - Vocals
Ernie Watts - Flute, Solo (#B1)
Chuck Findley - Horn
Gary Herbig - Horn
Larry Williams - Horn
Bill Reichenbach Jr. - Horn
Jim Horn - Horn
Leon Pendarvis - Piano, Keyboards, Arranger [Rhythm]
Neil Larsen - Organ (#A2,B3,B5), Keyboards
Dean Parks - Guitar
Robben Ford - Guitar, Guitar [Electric] (#A4)
Steve Lukather - Guitar
Abraham Laboriel, Sr. - Bass
Jeff Porcaro - Drums
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Marti McCall - Vocals [Background]
Petsye Powell - Vocals [Background]
Alfie Silas - Vocals [Background]
Phyllis Saint James - Vocals [Background]
=============================================
Arranger [Strings] - Nick DeCaro (#A1,A3,A4,B1,B2,B4,B5)
Bill Reichenbach - Arranger [Horns] (#A1,B3)
Dale Oehler - Arranger [Strings] (#A2,A5)
Arranger [Horns] - Larry Williams (#B3) 

Tracks:
A1. You Might Need Somebody {Tom Snow, Nan O'Byrne} (4:19)
A2. Rainy Night In Georgia {Tony Joe White} (4:22)
A3. That's How Heartaches Are Made {Ben Raleigh, Bob Halley} (2:57)
A4. Two Lives {Mark Jordan} (3:47)
A5. You Bring The Sun Out {Tom Snow, Jesse Dixon} (3:23)
B1. Rio De Janeiro Blue {Richard Torrance, John Haeny} (4:18)
B2. Secret Combination {Tom Snow, Frannie Golde}  (3:24)
B3. When I Lose My Way {Turley Richards} (3:44)
B4. Time For Love {Leon Russell} (4:15)
B5. Trade Winds {Ralph MacDonald, William Salter} (4:55) 

Total Time: 39:28 

Credits:
Producer - Tommy LiPuma
Recording & Mixing - Al Schmitt
Assistant Engineer - Stewart Whitmore, Don Henderson
Production Coordination - Noel Newbolt
Original Mastering - Mike Reese
CD Remastering - Lee Herschberg
Art Direction - Richard Seireeni
Photography - Phillip Dixon 

Secret Combination on Two Ronnies Show

Keiko Matsui - Cherry Blossom (1992)

If we're talking Keiko Matsui, we can expect another impressionistic album cover which belies the often-explosive music on the disc. Matsui draws a little more from her heritage this time but textures it with soulful excursions ("Walking on the Bridge"). She once again gives radio a seductive earful while continuing her heightened exploration into more challenging orchestral sounds and several impressive, wildly percussive Latin journeys (e.g., "Sail South"). Making perfect use of Lenny Castro's spicy percussion and Clay Jenkins' punchy trumpet flavors, Matsui lets loose. The gospel vocal by Arnold McCuller is a strong one. Other newcomers to the fold are guitarist Jorge Strunz, Jon Clark (recorder) and Sam Riney on sax. ~ by Jonathan Widran, AMG.

White Cat Records, 77701-2, 1992
Recorded at:
Milagro Sound Recorders, Glendale, California
Pacifique Studio, North Hollywood California
The Club House Studio, Burbank, California
Aire L.A. Studios, Glendale, California 

Musicians:
Keiko Matsui - Keyboards Arranger (#3,4,5,7)
Clay Jenkins - Trumpet (#8), Solo (#2)
Bill Armstrong - Trumpet (#2)
Alex Iles - Trombone (#2)
Gerald Albright - Saxophone (#1,3,5)
Sam Riney - Saxophone (#2,8)
Steve Tavaglione - Saxophone (#6,7)
Jon Clark - Recorder (#6), English Horn, Saxophone (#9)
Kazu Matsui - Shakuhachi (#9)
Derek Nakamoto - Synthesizer (#1,9), Arranger (#1,9)
Gary Stockdale - Synthesizer (#2,6,8) Arranger (#2,4; [Strings],6,8)
Ron Komie - Guitar (#2-5,8)
Jorge Strunz - Acoustic Guitar (#6)
Anas Allaf - Acoustic Guitar (#7)
Richard M. Schmidt - Steel Guitar (#8)
Brad Cumming - Bass (#1,3)
John Pena - Bass (#2,4,6-9)
Jimmy Johnson - Bass (#5)
Ed Smith - Drums (#1,3)
Bernie Dresel - Drums (#2,4-8)
Robert Chiarelli - Drum Programming (#3)
Lenny Castro - Percussion (#1-5,7,8)
Arnold McCuller - Lead Vocals (#5)
Yvonne Williams - Background Vocals (#5)
Alfie Silas - Background Vocals (#5)
Jeff Day - Lyrics (#5) 

Tracks:
1. Rainy Season (4:48)
2. Sail South (5:11)
3. Walking On The Bridge (4:18)
4. Crescendo (5:30)
5. She Prays To The Wind (4:41)
6. Cherry Blossom (5:02)
7. Frontier (4:19)
8. Foot Steps (4:08)
9. Dawn Opener (5:29) 

All Compositions by Keiko Matsui

Total Time: 43:30

Credits:
Producer - Kazu Matsui
Recording - Robert Biles, Robert Chiarelli, Dennis Moody
Mixing - Robert Chiarelli (#1-4,6,7,9), Craig Burbidge (#5,8)
Mastering - Teppei Kasai
Photography - Katsuhiro Ichikawa
Art Director - Hidetake Awano [Momogumi]
Cover Art - J. Torrents Llado