Robin Kenyatta - Gypsy Man (1972) [vinyl]

Sweet electric funk from Robin Kenyatta - but a set with some slightly complicated moments too! The album's a bit like some of Yusef Lateef's more electric moments on Atlantic, although probably not as cerebral overall - and Robin plays a range of reeds, including alto, flute, and soprano sax - the last of which is the best fit for the record, as Kenyatta plays it with a nicely snakey sort of style! Most tracks have a strong mix of keyboards and guitar - the former played by either Larry Willis or Pat Rebillot, the latter by David Spinoza or Keith Loving. Stanley Clarke plays bass on most of the set, and there's definitely some of his influence going on here too - and one track features added vocals by Robin and Lalome Wahsburn. Deodato arranged a version of "Last Tango In Paris" - and other titles include "Gypsy Man", "Melodie Chinoise", "Werewolf", "Another Freight Train", "Seems So Long", and "Reflective Silence". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Atlantic Records, SD 1633, 1973

Recorded & Mixed in September & October, 1972 at The Hit Factory, N.Y.

Personnel:

Robin Kenyatta - Soprano & Alto Saxes, Flute, Vocals

Al Deville - Trumpet (#B2)

Seldon Powell - Saxophone (#B2)

George Patterson - Saxophone (#B2)

Jack Philpot - Saxophone (#B2)

Larry Willis - Electric Piano

George Butcher - Piano, Organ

Pat Rebillot - Piano, Organ

Charles ‘Skip’ Pitts - Guitar [Wah Wah] (#A1)

David Spinozza - Guitar

Jimmy Wood - Guitar (#B2)

Keith Loving - Guitar

Stanley Clarke - Bass, Electric Bass

Ray Lucas - Drums (#A1)

Billy Cobham - Drums

Charles Collins - Drums

Rick Marotta - Drums

Ralph MacDonald - Percussion

Don Belamy - Vocals (#A1)

Lalome Washburn - Vocals

Tracks:

A1. Last Tango In Paris (Gato Barbieri} (4:49)

A2. Another Freight Train {Robin Kenyatta} (3:36)

A3. Werewolf {Robert W. McPherson} (4:26)

A4. Reflective Silence {Robin Kenyatta} (5:19)

B1. Seems So Long {Stevie Wonder} (3:52)

B2. Gypsy Man {Robin Kenyatta} (5:22)

B3. Melodie Chinoise {Robin Kenyatta} (5:45)

B4. I've Got Dreams To Remember {Otis Redding, Zelma Redding} (6:16)

Credits:

Producer - Michael Cuscuna

Recording Engineer - Harry Maslin

Arranger - Eumir Deodato (#A1), Robin Kenyatta (#A2,A4-B4), Robert W. McPherson (#A3)

Photography [Backliner] - Penny Scherr

Photography [Cover] - Joel Brodsky

Design - Haig Adishian

Robin Kenyatta - Take The Heat Off Me (1979) [vinyl>flac]

A rare bit of jazz-funk from the superlative saxophonist Robin Kenyatta. Released on an obscure label Robin is joined by a diverse array of personnel including the likes of Lew Soloff, Cornell Dupree, Dom Salvador, David Eubanks with some beautifully crafted playing and arrangements by Pat Coil and Masao Nakajima. Included are some colourful vocalists and even a tap dancer doing his stuff in the background. Enjoy this hard to procure LP.

Jazz Dance Records, JD-01, 1979

Recorded 1979 At East Coast Studios & Quadrasonic Studio, New York City

Personnel:

Robin Kenyatta - Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Vocals (#A2)

Pat Coil - Piano, Keyboards, Arranger

Lew Soloff - Trumpet

Ed Montiero - Accordion, Vocals (#B1)

Masao Nakajima - Piano, String Arranger (#A2)

Dom Salvadore, Peter Solomon - Piano, Keyboards

Cornell Dupree, Darryl Thompson, Marcus Fiorillo - Guitar

David Eubanks, John Lee, Sal Cuevas - Bass

Brian Janszen, John Susswell, Leroy Clouden - Drums

'Crusher' Bennett, Mike Pomier - Percussion

Chuck Hudson - Vocals (#A3)

Chuck Green - Tap Dance (#B3)

Tracks:

A1. Bad Boy {François Roland, Robin Kenyatta} (3:19)

A2. Sheik Of Araby {Sydney R. Smith} (3:15)

A3. Every Body's Talkin {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (4:37)

B1. Take The Heat Off Me {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (9:00)

B2. Inscrutable Miss' O' {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (5:31)

B3. Jazz Dance [Theme] {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (5:28)

Credits:

Producer - Robin Kenyatta

Engineer - Richie Corsella

Front Cover - Miquel Bejarano

Back Cover - Denny Tillman

Robin Kenyatta - Beggars And Stealers (1969+75) [vinyl>flac]

Robin Kenyatta is a versatile artist who has worked in a number of associations, playing with characters as varied as Archie Shepp, Barry Miles, Sonny Stitt and Mongo Santamaria. Kenyatta with his strong vibrato and earthy tone is quite at home playing styles ranging from Coleman Hawkins through to Charlie Parker. Apart from his musicianship, he clearly articulates an ability to craft astounding abstract musical concepts into his tunes. “Beggars And Stealers” documents a 1969 concert on which Kenyatta played tenor sax. This was the only time he ever used that instrument recorded on an album. An additional treat made available on this album is a magnificent duet with Muhal Richard Abrams on “Ruby My Dear”. Enjoy!

Muse Records, MR 5095, 1977

Recorded 8^th April, 1969 (#A1,A2,B1) Live at Columbia University, New York

And September, 1975 (#B2) at Generation Sound, New York

Musicians:

Robin Kenyatta - Tenor Sax (#A1-B1), Alto Sax (#B2)

Larry Willis - Piano (#A1-B1)

Muhal Richard Abrams - Piano (#B2)

Walter Booker - Bass

Alphonse Mouzon - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Nairobi Hot {Robin Kenyatta} (11:31)

A2. Dream Bug {Robin Kenyatta} (10:14)

B1. Beggars And Stealers {Robin Kenyatta} (12:30)

B2. Ruby My Dear {Thelonious Monk} (5:57)

Credits:

Producer - Robin Kenyatta

Producer, Liner Notes - Michael Cuscuna

Recording Engineer - Tony May (#B2)

Cover Design, Photography - Price Givens

Liner Design, Photography - Mark Larson, Charles Reilly

Also Released as:

Alphonse Mouson - Dream Bug (1977)

American Jazz & Blues History, Vol. 51

Tobacco Road [B/2551]

Germany

-------------------------

Happy Bird B/90085 (1977)

Germany

Robin Kenyatta - Nomusa (1975) [vinyl>flac]

When I interviewed him in 1974, Robin Kenyatta allowed that, for him, "jazz has always been about stomping your feet or clapping your hands; it's always been about being happy. I don't mean I just want to work in discotheques or play for dancers, but I want the feeling to be there. People should feel like dancing, feel like being happy. That's the feeling I always try to keep in my mind." Nomusa isn't a heavy, get-down dancing album. It's a light, pirouetting, on-your-toes-and-into-the-air dancing album. And feelings, happy feelings, are definitely what it's about. ~ Bob Palmer.

Muse Records, MR 5062, 1975

Recorded 28^th January, 1975 at Blue Rock Studios, New York

Musicians:

Robin Kenyatta - Alto Saxophone, Soprano & Alto Saxes (#A1)

Xaba Ndikho - Piano (#A1)

Dom Salvador - Piano, Organ (#A1)

Stafford James - Bass

Joe Chambers - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Nomusa {Xaba Ndikho} (9:33)

A2. Warm Valley {Duke Ellington} (7:35)

B1. Slow Boat To China {Frank Loesser} (6:29)

B2. Afternoon Outing {John Handy} (5:35)

B3. Prettyside Avenue {John Handy} (6:19)

Note:

#B1 is a duet between Robin Kenyatta and Dom Salvador with each musician overdubbing a second part.

Credits:

Producer - Michael Cuscuna

Recording Engineer - Eddie Korvin

Jacket Photo and Design - Leandro Katz

Liner Notes - Bob Palmer

Also Released as:

Robin Kenyatta - Warm Valley

American Jazz & Blues History, Vol. 56

Tobacco Road [B/2556]

Germany

------------------------

Happy Bird B/90091 (1975)

Germany

Archie Shepp - For Losers (1968+1969) [vinyl]

One of the grooviest albums from Archie Shepp's post-new thing years for Impulse - a nicely grooving session that mixes soul-based tracks with more righteous spiritual jazz moments! The approach here is a nicely varied - a laidback, collaborative spirit that's even quite different from Shepp's work in France at the time, or even from some of his other sessions for Impulse. At one moment, Archie's playing in a gently spare and soulful mode - foreshadowing his late 70s sides - but at another, he'll be opening up with intensity, egged on by a group of well-matched players who include Woody Shaw, Grachan Moncur III, James Spaulding, and Cedar Walton. Side 2 features the extended "Un Croque Monsieur" - a modally building number with some free post-Coltrane energy, and a righteous poem from Chinalin Sharpe. Sharpe returns in a completely different spirit on "I Got It Bad" - singing the lyrics in a Billie Holiday mode alongside Shepp's solo - and Leon Thomas sings on the soul-based number "Stick Em Up", again very different than usual! Titles also include a great version of Cal Massey's "What Would It Be Without You" and the funky groover "Abstract". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Impulse! Records, AS-9188, 1970

Recorded 9^th September, 1968 (#A1) at RCA Studios, New York City

Recorded 17^th February, 1969 (#A2) at RCA Studios, New York City

Recorded 26^th August, 1969 (#A3,A4,B) at RCA Studios, New York City

Personnel:

A1. Stick 'Em Up {Archie Shepp} (2:05)

Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone

Robin Kenyatta - Alto Saxophone

Grachan Moncur III - Trombone

Martin Banks - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Andrew Bey - Piano

Mel Brown - Organ, Guitar

Bert Payne - Guitar

Albert Winston - Fender Bass

Wilton Felder - Fender Bass

Beaver Harris - Drums

Doris Troy - Vocals

Leon Thomas - Vocals

Tasha Thomas - Vocals

A2. Abstract {Archie Shepp} (4:21)

Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone

James Spaulding - Alto Saxophone

Charles Davis - Baritone Saxophone

Grachan Moncur III - Trombone

Jimmy Owens - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Wally Richardson - Guitar

Dave Burrell - Organ

Bob Bushnell - Fender Bass

Bernard Purdie - Drums

A3. I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good] {Duke Ellington, Paul Webster} (5:15)

Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone

Clarence Sharpe - Alto Saxophone

Cedar Walton - Piano

Wilbur Sharpe - Bass

Joe Chambers - Drums

Chinalin Sharpe - Vocals

A4. What Would It Be Without You {Cal Massey} (4:05)

Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone

Cecil Payne - Baritone Saxophone, Flute

Cedar Walton - Piano

Wilbur Sharpe - Bass

Joe Chambers - Drums

B. Un Croque Monsieur [Poem: For Losers] {Archie Shepp} (21:47)

Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone

Cecil Payne - Baritone Saxophone

Clarence Sharpe - Alto Saxophone

Woody Shaw - Trumpet

Matthew Gee - Trombone

Cedar Walton - Piano

Wilbur Sharpe - Bass

Joe Chambers - Drums

Chinalin Sharpe - Vocals

Credits:

Producer - Ed Michel

Supervision - Bob Thiele (#A1,A2), Ed Michel (#A4,A4,B)

Artwork Design - George Whiteman

Photography - Chuck Stewart

Liner Notes - Archie Shepp

Tracklist:

A1. Stick 'Em Up {Archie Shepp} (2:05)

A2. Abstract {Archie Shepp} (4:21)

A3. I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good] {Duke Ellington, Paul Webster} (5:15)

A4. What Would It Be Without You {Cal Massey} (4:06)

B. Un Croque Monsieur [Poem: For Losers] {Archie Shepp} (21:47)

At the time this record was recorded, Shepp was bouncing back and forth between Paris and New York. He also bounced between the Impulse! and BYG labels. He also bounced between styles. For BYG, his music reached to grasp the bare beginnings of black music, back to Africa and the blues. His music for Impulse! tried to embrace the contemporary sounds of R&B, with very mixed results that to this day divide his fans. This record is a transitional one. For the traditionalists, there's his shattering and amusing cover of "I've Got It Bad" performed by the usual suspects one would think to find on an Archie Shepp record, including Cecil Payne and Joe Chambers. For those enraptured by albums like Attica Blues, songs like "Stick 'Em Up" will fascinate, as Shepp's raspy tenor is joined not only by a legion of avant-garde brethren (including names like Beaver Harris and Grachan Moncur), but also by the funky wood of electric bass, guitar, and organ. Some will find those later tracks a bit hard to take. Some will even find themselves snickering. But for anyone wishing to understand the music and career of this brilliant musician, this is an undervalued piece of the puzzle. ~ Rob Ferrier, AMG.