Billy Cobham – A Funky Thide Of Sings
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1975, Funk, Jazz
After a string of successful solo efforts, Billy Cobham began to slip into mediocrity beginning with this recording, originally released in 1975. While elements of funk were always a part of his band’s sound, it was now the primary focus. “Panhandler” stands out as the session’s most memorable composition, while Milcho Leviev contributes nicely on “Moody Modes.” Cobham fans will want to seek this out for the extended drum solo “A Funky Kind of Thing,” which stands as one of the most original drum solos he ever recorded.
Tracklist
01. Panhandler
02. Sorcery
03. A Funky Thide Of Sings
04. Thinking Of You
05. Some Skunk Funk
06. Light At The End Of The Tunnel
07. A Funky Kind Of Thing
08. Moody Modes
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Piero Umiliani – Il Corpo
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1974, Easy listening, Funk
Sweetly funky and very slinky this is one of the best early 70s scores by the great Italian composer Piero Umiliani! The record has lots of bubbling electric piano, rumbling electric basslines, warm acoustic percussion, and moody wordless vocals. At some level, the album sounds a lot like the contemporaneous work by the great Italian Fender Rhodes combo Crossfire but it’s also filled with a spacey madness that could only come from the pen of Umiliani!
Tracklist
01. Free Life (Vocal)
02. Tidal Stream
03. In The End (Instrumental)
04. Hard Times
05. Stream (Alternate)
06. Princess (Alternative)
07. Chaser
08. Stream (Alternate Intro)
09. The Body
10. White Sand (Extended)
11. In The End
12. In The Village
13. Free Life (Extended)
14. Princess (Extended Intro)
15. Stream
16. Savana
17. Dusken
18. Desert Island
19. Princess
20. The Body
21. Desert Island (Extended)
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Oneness Of Juju – African Rhythms
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1975, Funk, Jazz
A landmark of Afro-centric jazz in the 70s – and the first album by this famous underground collective! Oneness of Juju were a Washington DC-based group that grew out of the ashes of the Juju avant jazz ensemble – formed in the culturally rich African-American community of DC in the 70s, with spiritual and political aspirations that stretched far beyond the average funky combo. This first album is a masterful blend of percussion, jazz, and a slight bit of funk – alternating vocal tracks with harder-hitting jazz instrumentals, all held together under the leadership of sax player Plunky Nakabinde. The album’s one of the greatest independent soul jazz albums of the 70s – and it’s filled with great tracks, such as the breakbeat classic “African Rhythms” and “Liberation Dues”. Other titles include “Kazi”, “Funky Wood”, “Don’t Give Up”, “Poo Too”, and “Incognito”.
Tracklist
01. African Rhythms
02. Kazi
03. Funky Wood
04. Tarishi
05. Mashariki
06. Chants
07. Don’t Give Up
08. Icognito
09. Poo Too
10. Liberation Dues
11. Liberation Dues (Instrumental)
12. African Rhythms (45 Version)
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Franco Micalizzi – Italia A Mano Armata
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1976, Funk
Awesome soundtrack of the italian movie “Italia A Mano Armata” by Franco Micalizzi!
Tracklist
01. The Criminal Gang
02. A Dirty Trick
03. The Cruel Kidnapper
04. Hunting The Gang
05. The False Hostage
06. Temptation And Siege
07. The Child And Her Sister
08. Hard Falling
09. The Pleasant Visit
10. A Man Befor Your Time
11. Shall We Dance
12. A Nosy Guy
13. Too Much Nosy
14. Death In The Cave
15. The No-Peace Pursuit
16. A Tree Could Hurt
17. A Snare For Betti
18. An Angel, A Devil
19. Damned Bricks
20. Machinegun Death
21. Black and White Ending
22. The Criminal Gang
23. Tiny Armed Suite
24. Detecting The Boss
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Catalyst – Catalyst
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1972, Funk, Jazz, Soul
People living anywhere other than southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York in the ’70s missed the Catalyst experience. Catalyst, a four-man jazz combo from Philadelphia, played a gourmet of avant-garde, contemporary bop, soul, and funk at the dawn of the big fusion explosion. The originals were Eddie Green (keyboards, vocals), Sherman Ferguson (drums, percussion, marimba), Odean Pope (sax, flute, oboe), and Al Johnson (bass). Tyrone Brown replaced Johnson after Catalyst’s self-titled debut album on Cobblestone Records in 1972. Producer Skip Drinkwater discovered them playing at the Aqua Lounge in West Philly; this resulted in a contract with Cobblestone Records, with Drinkwater producing. Green was a disciple of the Bud Powell school of pianism, and was instructed on chord changes by Powell’s brother, Richard. Pope was tutored by Ray Bryant, Benny Golson, and others; strains of John Coltrane are revealed when the aggressive sax player expands. Ferguson was a bop drummer whose effortless tempo changes and impeccable timing kept Catalyst tight. Johnson, who joined Weather Report after Catalyst’s first album, was self-taught, but influenced by classical music.
They rehearsed hard and inspired one another to push farther into unknown territories where all the music they liked could be wrapped into a holistic sound. Jazz clubs in Philly were plentiful in the ’70s, which may account for the group’s lack of trips outside the region. The band’s eponymous funk-jazz debut, Catalyst, is highly regarded as a fusion masterpiece.
little preview:
Tracklist
01. Ain’t The Truth
02. East
03. Catalyst Is Coming
04. Jabali
05. New-Found Truths
06. Salaam
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Michael Longo – 900 Shares of the Blues
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1975, Funk, Jazz
A killer electric piano jam from the great Mike Longo – stone funky, and one of his best albums ever! The whole thing’s done in a really laidback style that’s simply amazing – a lot like the best CTI work of the time, but somehow rougher, and with a darker edge. Longo riffs out on the keys over rhythm by Ron Carter, Mickey Roker, and Ralph MacDonald – and Joe Farrell and Randy Brecker add in some great horn work that fleshes out the tunes with a deeply soulful jazzy feel. The whole album’s great, with a range of moods, emotions, and grooves that Longo hardly ever hit again – and titles include “Summers Gone”, “El Moodo Grande”, “Like a Thief In the Night”, “Ocean of His Might”, and “Magic Number”.
little preview:
Tracklist
01. 900 Shares Of The Blues
02. Like a Thief In The Night
03. Ocean Of His Might
04. Magic Number
05. Summers Gone
06. El Moodo Grande
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Liquid Spirits – Music
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2008, Funk, Soul
”LIQUID SPIRITS”, Dutch Contemporary Soul formation founded by producers/musicians Manuel Hugas (bass) and Wiboud Burkens (keyboards). The Liquid Spirits band consists solely of the finest musicians of the Dutch Music Scene: Jasmin Tusjadia, Dedre Twiss, Lo van Gorp, Brian Zalmijn (vocals), Cyril Directie (drums), Wiboud Burkens (keyboards), Manuel Hugas (bass) and Marc Bien (guitars).
Considered one of the best hip hop-soul bands in Europe, their music – a mix of hiphop grooves, ambient and soul is melodic and deep. Their “hip hop-soul” music arises because the group writes, produce and record together. When doing this they use different production styles like the monotheism of sample culture, old school soul recordings with all live instruments and combinations. The variety of vocal harmonies and soulful melodies are never slick, but always sophisticated, subtle and emotional.
for more info check: myspace.com/liquidspirits
Tracklist
01. Say It Ain’t So
02. A Little More
03. Melodies ft. Leon Ware
04. Could It Be You 1
05. Could It Be You 2
06. Closing Time
07. Closing Time – Duet
08. If You Don’t Love Me ft. Phonte
09. Stepney
10. Music
11. No One ft. Melodee
12. Sacred State Of Mind
13. Higher Ground
14. Heaven
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Mulatu & The Heliocentrics – Inspiration Information
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2010, Funk, Jazz
The third in Strut’s Inspiration Information studio collaboration series brings together an intriguing pairing between one of Africa’s great bandleaders, Mulatu Astatke, with the next level musicianship of The Heliocentrics collective from the mighty roster of Stones Throw / Now Again. for more info and buy check: www.strut-records.com
Tracklist
01. Masenqo
02. Cha Cha
03. Addis Black Widow
04. Mulatu
05. Blue Nle
06. Esketa Dance
07. Chik Chikka
08. Live from Tigre Lounge
09. Chinese New Year
10. Phantom of The Panther
11. Dewel
12. Fire in the Zoo
13. An Epic Story
14. Anglo Ethio Suite
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Tonio Rubio – Rhythms
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1973, Funk, Jazz
Tracklist
01. Latin Leitmotiv
02. Red Medium
03. Dead Slow
04. Royal Shuffle N°1
05. Royal Shuffle N°2
06. Rock 73
07. Bass In Action N°1
08. Bass In Action N°2
09: Pepper Rock
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Acusmatic Group – Pilot
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2009, Funk, Future Jazz, Jazz
ACUSMATIC GROUP is an instrumental cinematic-jazz-funk studio project, founded by 2 musicians / producers (Romeo Sandri and Michele Berselli) based in the North-West of Italy.
INSPIRED BY: spy movies atmospheres, blaxploitation and 70′s italian cop movie soundtracks. They combine the magic of ‘crime jazz’ and funk from those days, giving it a fresh treatment with today’s grooves. James Bond vs John Shaft
“Pilot” is their debut album, released on La Douce (IRMA records). It contains only original compositions, except for one very special cover of ‘Walkin’ On The Moon’ by The Police that could easily come from a blaxploitation OST.
for more info and buy: www.acusmaticgroup.com
Tracklist
01. Appuntamento al Porto
02. Walking On The Moon
03. Fish Food
04. Momento Suspense
05. Secret Lovers
06. S’Apercevoir
07. Mac Guffin
08. Inst4action
09. Regolamento di Conti
10. Any Questions
11. Supablax
12. The Fixer
13. Un Grosso Guaio
14. Regolamento di Conti (End Titles)
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Katzuma.org – Moonbooty
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2005, Funk
Katzuma is Chico MD and Tony T mixing samples as they were live instruments and viceversa. We bring to life some original compositions that you’d expect to find in a dusty 12″ rare vinyl. Made three cds “Moonbooty” (2005) “Rituals Of Life” (2008) “DR.Know” (2010) and played hundreds of djsets all over Italy. In 2007 Benn invited to collaborate with Italian 70 Soundtracks composer Franco Micalizzi, doing the musical arrangements for the incredible show-event “Gli Originali” (myspace.com/glioriginali). Katzuma’s tracks have been used for commercial spots and tv shows and as a chant to invoke the troubled spirit of El Chupacabra. We like Cedrata Tassoini and are grateful to the fine signers, musicians, and graphic designers who helped us along the way. Keep on steppin!
for more info check: www.katzuma.org
little preview:
Tracklist
01. On the one
02. Let’s get it started (Feat. Sean Martin)
03. The sleeptalker (Feat. Sean Martin)
04. The job’s not over (’til the paperwork is done)
05. Playing your game (Feat. Gloria T and Sean Martin)
06. I never saw someone bend before (Feat. Sean Martin and Dre Love)
07. Baby won’t you
08. Free your mind pt. 2 (Feat. Sean Martin)
09. People get up
10. Dig deeper work harder
11. Got to get sum
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Gong – Shamal
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1976, Funk
By 1975, all Gong’s rough edges were sanded away. Erstwhile leader Daevid Allen took his spacy/psychedelic hippie mythology with him when he left in ’74. In it’s place, the remaining members (vocalist Gilli Smyth and synth player Tim Blake had also departed) pursued a jazz-rock fusion sound and a group-led dynamic, with all members contributing ideas. SHAMAL is full of ultimately satisfying mid-’70s fusion, but the final traces of the old Gong can still be heard in Didier Malherbe’s whimsical sax lines, bassist Mike Howlett’s occasional vocals/lyrics and the biting guitar of Steve Hillage (at this point merely a guest musician). It’s ironic that it was produced by Nick Mason since it’s far from Gong’s Pink Floydish space-rock origins, but SHAMAL is the first and probably the best of the Gong Mark II albums.
Tracklist
01. Wingful Of Eyes
02. Chandra
03. Bombooji
04. Cat In Clark’s Shoes
05. Mandrake
06. Shamal
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Brian Bennett – Voyage (A Journey Into Discoid Funk)
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1978, Electronic, Funk
A voyage from Brian Bennett – indeed a trip into disco and funk inspired rhythms, as the subtitle lets us know, but also plenty synthy rock, jazz and proggy elements – a Voyage worth taking from the sound library genius Bennett! The synths and keyboards by Francis Monkman is the secret weapon on this effort for sure – percussionist/producer/arranger Bennett is the guiding force, but the sound of those keys and synths are the neon bright leading light, while Bennett’s percussion and Alan Jone’s bass bring a nice funky bottom end. Titles include “Voyage”, “Solstice”, “Chain Reaction”, “Pendulum Force”, “Air Quake” and “Ocean Glide”.
Tracklist
01. Voyage
02. Solstice
03. Chain Reaction
04. Pendulum Force
05. Air Quake
06. Ocean Glide
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
MRR-ADM Featuring Malcolm Catto – Untitled
Posted by dOk | Filed under 2008, Funk
This record is simple to describe: it’s all about rhythm. Drums to be exact. Heavy, syncopated, driving. Followed by the bass. Percussive, insistent. Perhaps some guitar. Biting, raspy. Analog synth sounds? Absolutely. As long as they’re dark. If those descriptions sound similar to those that you might find on the back of those production library LPs from the likes of KPM, Dewolfe, Southern, Peer or other imprints whose sole purpose was to supply talented musicians with a blank disc which they could theninscribe with sounds of their liking, well, congrats to you. You’ve touched on MRR-ADM’s mantra. No contrived, commercial formulas needed. Just a theme, built upon for a number of tracks pressed onto wax and sold to radio stations, film and television editors and ad agencies across the world. That’s really what you’re holding in your hand – a music library album. Done for the modern day arbiter of taste, of course. But, this time made available – in limited quantities, however – to the record buying public. MRR-ADM are a production team from Southern California. At one point in the past, they were known as MHE (see their forthcoming release on Sound in Color). On this record, they worked with Malcolm Catto (leader of The Heliocentrics on Now-Again Records) and Mike Burnham (Tardis Studios, UK and Australia) along with some other supremely musical compatriots. This limited edition (less than 1,000 pieces manufactured) 10″ vinyl is a privately pressed record. Catchy titles are not MRR-ADM’s strong suit. You’ll notice that there aren’t any song titles on this album. Actually, there aren’t any words on this package. MRR-ADM are concerned with stark, dark minimalism, whether in their design or in their sound. These six songs – complex in their seeming simplicity – are their favorites from the first round of recordings that they made over the past five years. But they are only an introduction. There is much more to come.
little preview:
Tracklist
01. 009
02. 010
03. 011
04. 012
05. 013
06. Beat
DOWNLOAD! MULTIMIRROR
Eddie Russ – Take A Look At Yourself
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1978, Funk
Tracklist
01. Take A Look At Yourself
02. Don’t Ask My Neighbours
03. Tea Leaves
04. Interlude
05. I Want To Be Somebody
06. Feelin’ Fine
07. I Heard That
08. Lay Back
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Piero Umiliani – La Ragazza Fuori Strada
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1975, Easy listening, Funk
One of the coolest Italian soundtracks we’ve heard in a long time — a wonderful set of tunes that moves from slinky, to easy, to groovy, and beyond! The tunes start out bubbling very spare and slow — with floating piano, moog, and other nice bits — and as the record progresses, the sound gets heavier, with some nice funky elements thrown into the mix! The whole thing’s a brilliant exercise in understatement — not only one of the best soundtracks by Umiliani from the 70s, but also a perfect example of why we dig Italian soundtracks so much! Titles include “Volto Di Donna”, “La Prima Uscita”, “La Rinuncia”, “Senza Tregua”, “Nostalgia”, “The Party”, and “Maryam”.
Tracklist
01. Volto Di Donna (Original Demo)
02. Volto Di Donna
03. Nostalgia
04. La Rinuncia
05. Nostalgia
06. Senza Tregua
07. Volto Di Donna
08. Il Tuo Volto
09. Nostalgia
10. Cantata Per Maryam
11. La Rinuncia
12. Oltre L’acqua Del Fiume
13. La Prima Uscita
14. Tra La Gente
15. Le Ore Che Contano (Base)
16. Volto Di Donna
17. Maryam
18. The Party
19. Le Ore Che Contano
20. Volto Di Donna
21. Il Tuo Volto
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Oliver Sain – Main Man
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1972, Funk, Jazz, Soul
little preview:
Tracklist
01. Soul Serenade
02. Comin Down Soul
03. On The Hill
04. Harlem Nocturn
05. 20-75
06. Scratch My Back
07. Georgia
08. St. Louis Breakdown
09. Mr. King & Mr. Jordan
10. St. Louis Breakdon (45 Version)
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
André Ceccarelli – Rythmes
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1976, Funk, Jazz
little preview:
Tracklist
01. Panier A Crabes
02. Regis Song
03. Funk No. 3
04. Dindou No. 1
05. 4ème Gauche
06. Magasins D’Usines
07. Bossa For My Feet
08. Funk No. 4
09. Beautiful Country
10. Gang Progress
11. Papa Song
12. Funk No. 2
13. Funo No. 1
14. X
15. Stock No. 1
16. Samba For D
17. For D
18. Dindou No. 2
19. Boxing No. 1
20. Ponctuations No. 1
21. Ponctuations No. 2
22. Ponctuations No. 3
23. Ponctuations No. 4
24. Ponctuations No. 5
25. D d No. 1
26. D d No. 2
27. D d No. 3
28. D d No. 4
29. Ponctuations No. 6
30. Ponctuations No. 7
31. Ponctuations No. 8
32. Ponctuations No. 9
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Franco Micalizzi – Violence
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1977, Funk
Very solid Italian soundtrack for a police movie. Excellent funky theme that is reprised throughout the record, a bit like his British ‘cousin’, “The Hanged Man”. Dark slow or medium grooves with very efficient breaks on “Caccia al cinese”, “Dark Suspense” and “Affano”.
little preview:
Tracklist
01. Big Fight
02. L’Ultima Minaccia
03. Droga e Paura
04. Senza Via D’Uscità
05. Dark Suspsance
06. Pronti Per L’Agguato
07. Tensione Notturna
08. Running To The Airport
09. A Un Passo Dal Delirio
10. Deep Night
11. Caccia Al Cinese
12. Fiato Sospeso
13. Autostrada Della Morte
14. Affano
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Piero Umiliani – To-Day’s Sound
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1997, Easy listening, Funk, Jazz
Far-out music composed, conducted and arranged by Piero Umiliani!
Tracklist
01. Open Space
02. Green Valley
03. Caretera Panamericana
04. Goodmorning Sun
05. To-Day’s Sound
06. Free Dimension
07. Truck Driver
08. Blue Lagoon
09. Wanderer
10. Lady Magnolia
11. Pretty
12. Railroad
13. Country Town
14. Bus Stop
15. Cotton Road
16. Nocturne
17. Exploration
18. Tropical River
19. Coast To Coast
20. Safari Club
21. Music On The Road
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Arthur Verocai – Arthur Verocai
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1972, Funk, Jazz
Sweet and jazzy pop from early 70s Brazil — a great little album that we’d rank with our favorites by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo! Arthur Verocai isn’t nearly as well-known as those two, but he works in a similar territory — taking jazz, large arrangements, and nice touches of electric funk — and working them into a groove that has the soaring and ambitious feel of the best post-Tropicalia work of 70s Brazil! This rare gem was self-produced, and fell of the map almost as soon as it was released — but it really deserves wider recognition, and shines with a depth that makes it an instant classic to our ears! Titles include “Presente Grego”, “Caboclo”, “Pelas Sombras”, “O Mapa”, “Sylvia”, “Karina”, “Velho Parente”, and “Dedicada A Ela”.
Tracklist
01. Caboclo
02. Pelas Sombras
03. Sylvia
04. Presente Grego
05. Dedicada a Ela
06. Seriado
07. Na Boca Do Sol
08. Velho Parente
09. O Mapa
10. Karina (Domingo No Grajau)
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Ed Motta – Entre E Ouça
Posted by dOk | Filed under Funk, Jazz, Soul
little preview:
Tracklist
01. O Nu Que Vale
02. Bem Longe
03. Agora Que O Dia Acordou
04. Que Tal Londres?
05. Leve-me Ao Sonho
06. Entre E Ouça
07. Lulu Prelude
08. Noir Em Tons Pastéis
09. À Vontade
10. Se Até Às 11
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Ronnie Laws – Solid Ground
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1981, Funk, Jazz
Ronald Wayne “Ronnie” Laws (born October 3, 1950 in Houston, Texas)[1] is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.
Tracklist
01. Heavy On Easy
02. Segue There’s A Way
03. Stay Awake
04. Soldi Ground
05. Your Stuff
06. Just As You Are
07. Summer Fool
08. Good Feelings
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Azymuth – Light As A Feather
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1979, Funk, Jazz
Azymuth features Jose Roberto Bertrami on keyboards and percussion, Alex Malheiros on bass, Ivan Conte on drums and synthesizers, and Aleuda on additional percussion. The group was formed in 1969 in Rio de Janeiro. Due to the overwhelming prominence of Brazilian pop, Azymuth barely survived during their first decade because of their insistence on playing jazz and samba influenced instrumentals. The band’s break came in 1978 when Bertrami was invited to pen some tunes for an album by percussion virtuoso, Airto Moreira. A tour with Flora Purim added to the group’s notoriety, and a few months later the musicians signed a recording contract. Several well-received albums followed, including Outubro.
Against all odds, keyboardist Jose Roberto Bertrami and his Brazilian jazz-rock band, Azymuth, made quite a name for themselves in the early 1980s, playing an infectious music that blended the subtle melodies of bossa nova with hot samba rhythms and a dash of rock and roll. Light As A Feather, the group’s first release, is filled with fiery Brazilian sounds and the kind of beats that make you want to get up and dance. This fusion classic is available through a special CD only release on the Black Sun label, thanks to their producer, Joel Leibovitz.
Light As A Feather is a superb introduction to the many talents of the Brazilian band which accompanied Flora Purim on her critically acclaimed 1978 American tour. It was Purim’s assertion that Azymuth was the best group in Brazil today that gained United States exposure for the group in their own right. A textural delight, Light As A Feather features a seemingly endless variety of exotic percussion devices tastefully blended together with the uniquely spiced outpourings of Bertrami’s synthesizers. The Flora Purim/Stanley Clarke title track is an ethereal standout, while the Azymuth original Jazz Carnival offers an extended jaunt through electrifying solos and heated percussion licks against a throbbing dance beat. In fact, it was this cut which propelled Light As A Feather to the top 10 in jazz charts worldwide.
Tracklist
01. Partido Alto
02. Avenida Das Mangueiras
03. Light As A Feather
04. Fly Over The Horizon (Vôo Sobre O Horizonte)
05. Amazonia
06. Jazz Carnival
07. Young Embrace (Um Abraço Da Mocidade)
08. Dona Olimpia
09. This Exists (Existe Isto)
10. Montreux
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
Dexter Wansel – Life on Mars
Posted by dOk | Filed under 1976, Funk
Keyboardist/arranger/producer/recording artist Dexter Wansel can be heard throughout the catalog of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records. In 1975, Wansel met Gamble & Huff when he was a member of a band called Yellow Sunshine, which also boasted guitarist Roland Chambers who would later become a part of MFSB, the house band for Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records. Becoming a part of the staff creative collective, Wansel began arranging, playing keyboards, and writing songs for the label’s acts including the O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, and the Intruders, among others. His skills can be heard on non-PIR sides like Jermaine Jackson’s “Where Are You Now” from his gold LP Let’s Get Serious and “Tonight” from Junior’s Acquired Taste LP. His frequent songwriting partners were Cynthia Biggs, Bunny Sigler, and T. Life. A synth pioneer, Wansel’s first LP arranging assignment was several tracks on Carl Carlton’s 1975 LP, I Wanna Be With You, produced by Bunny Sigler. A Biggs/Wansel song, “The Sweetest Pain,” a duet between Wansel and Jean Carn, originally a 1979 single from Wansel’s Time Is Slipping Away LP, was a popular radio-aired LP from Loose Ends’ Zagora LP. Wansel’s own charting LPs were Life on Mars from summer 1976 (includes two tracks with Instant Funk, “Life on Mars” and You Can Be What You Wanna Be”), What the World Is Coming To, Voyager (with its great space-age oriented graphics) from spring 1978, and Time Is Slipping Away from 1979. Several tracks from his LPs were radio-aired LP tracks (the lushly orchestrated Theme From the Planets,” the spacy, funky “Disco Lights”) During the ’90s, Wansel continued to work with the reactivated Philadelphia International Records and occasionally toured.
little preview:
Tracklist
01. A Profhet Named K.G.
02. Life On Mars
03. Together Once Again
04. Stargazer
05. One Million Miles From Ground
06. You Can Be What You Wanna Be
07. Theme From The Planets
08. Rings Of Saturn
DOWNLOAD! RAPIDSHARE
DOWNLOAD! MEGAUPLOAD
DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE
