Jimmy Ponder - White Room (1977) [vinyl]

A sweet little groover from guitarist Jimmy Ponder -- a surprisingly satisfying record that features Ponder soloing out over some tight funky backings that almost sound like the best of the larger group sessions on Kudu or Groove Merchant. Jimmy's playing a sweet hollow body that gives him a tone that's a bit like O'Donnel Levy -- warm and chromatic, with single notes picked out in a tight progression that has a lot more jazz than you'd expect for the session at the time. One cut does have some vocals from Jimmy, but the rest is instrumental -- with tracks that include "So In Love", "Quintessence", "Bro James", and "Easy".  Dusty Groove. 

ABC Impulse! AS-9327, 1977
Recorded at Sound Ideas, New York, N.Y. and
ABC Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California 

Musicians:
Jimmy Ponder - Guitar, Vocals (#A1)
Albert Prince - Electric Piano (#A1,B3), Organ (#A2,A3,B1), Clavinet (#A4), Piano (#B2)
Sonny Burke - Clavinet (#A1,B1), Piano (#A2), ARP String Ensemble (#B1)
Cedric Lawson, Michael Boddicker - Synthesizer (#B2)
Chris White - Bass (#A3,A4,B2)
James Jamerson, Sr. - Bass (#A1,B3)
Scott Edwards - Bass (#A2,B1)
Victor Jones - Drums (#A1-A4,B2,B3)
James Gadson - Drums (#B1)
Paulinho Da Costa - Conga Drums (#A1,A2,A4), Percussion (#A2,B2), Bongo Drums (#B1)
Stacy Edwards - Percussion (#A3)
+ Strings (#A1,A3,B3)
Arranger, Conductor - Johnny Pate
Concertmaster - Charles Veal

Tracks:
A1. If You Need Someone To Love {Jimmy Ponder} (6:10)
A2. Going Back To Country Living {Bell, Creed} (5:18)
A3. Easy {Jimmy Ponder} (4:02)
A4. Bro' James {Jimmy Ponder} (5:20)
B1. White Room {Bruce, Brown} (6:10)
B2. Quintessence {Jimmy Ponder} (7:02)
B3. So In Love {Jimmy Ponder} (5:47) 

Total Time: 39:49 

Credits:
Producer - Esmond Edwards
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Barney Perkins
Recording Engineer - Skip Juried
Collage Design - John Van Hamersveld
Photography - Chris Callis
Art Direction - Earl Klasky 

Easy

Link

Stanley Turrentine - Pieces Of Dreams (1974) [vinyl>re-rip]

“Pieces of Dreams” is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, his first recorded for the Fantasy label after associations with Blue Note Records and CTI. The title track is certainly the tenorist’s standout on this LP, a classic for its time composed by Michel LeGrand, when jazz was entering a commercial period to counteract the onslaught of Rock/Pop. Turrentine's tenor is combined with various electric keyboards, guitarists, a few background vocalists, and strings, which are all arranged by Gene Page, who with Billy Page pen a couple of compositions. In many ways this album is very enjoyable despite its smooth jazz sound. Stanley still showcases his ability to handle his horn magnificently within some brilliantly arranged modern tunes. Certainly worth re-investigating! 

Fantasy Records, F-9465, 1974
Recorded 30th & 31st May, 1974 at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California 

Musicians:
Stanley Turrentine - Tenor Saxophone
Gene Page, John Miller, Sonny Burke - Keyboards
David T. Walker, Dean Parks, Ray Parker, Jr. - Guitar
Ron Brown - Bass
Ed Greene - Drums
Ed Moore - Drums (#A1)
Gary Coleman - Percussion
Joe Clayton - Congas
Carolyn Willis, Edna Wright, Myrna Matthews - Backing Vocals
Arranger, Conductor - Gene Page 

Tracks:
A1. Pieces Of Dreams {Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel LeGrand} (4:36)
A2. I Know It's You {Leon Ware} (4:08)
A3. Deep In Love {Billy Page, Gene Page {Arr.}, Johannes Brahms} (4:27)
B1. Midnight And You {Billy Page, Gene Page} (4:00)
B2. Evil {Stevie Wonder} (4:36)
B3. Blanket On The Beach {Billy Page, Gene Page} (6:23)
B4. I'm In Love {Bobby Womack} (4:02) 

Credits:
Producer - Billy Page, Gene Page, Stanley Turrentine
Executive Producer - Ron Granger
Production Coordinator - Olivia Page
Recording Engineer - Jim Stern
Additional Recording and Remix Engineer - Stan Ross
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Art Direction, Liner Photography - Tony Lane
Cover Art - Jaymie Putnam