everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!
After greatly increasing their visibility with Skin Tight, the Ohio Players became even more visible with Fire — an unpredictable masterpiece that boasted such explosive horn-driven funk jewels as “Smoke” and the wildly addictive title song. The Players were always best known for their hard-edged funk, but in fact, there was much more to their legacy. “I Want to Be Free,” the almost innocent “Together,” and the remorseful “It’s All Over” demonstrate that their ballads and slower material could be first-rate soul treasures. The influence of gospel imagery and the black church experience had asserted itself on Skin Tight’s “Is Anybody Gonna Be Saved,” and does so once again on the intense “What the Hell” and the hit “Runnin’ From the Devil.” Without question, Fire was one of the Ohio Players’ greatest triumphs — both commercially and artistically. (allmusic)
everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!
Beginning with a crack of thunder, like it was made to trail Gary Bartz’s “Mother Nature” (actually recorded at a slightly later date), Stepping into Tomorrow contains almost all of the Mizell trademarks within its title track’s first 30 seconds: a soft and easy (yet still funky) electric-bass-and-drums foundation, silken rhythm guitar, organ and piano gently bouncing off one another, light synthesizer shading, and coed group vocals to ensure true liftoff. It’s only one in a line of many magnetic ’70s sessions led by Fonce and Larry Mizell, and it differs from their two previous Donald Byrd dates — the polarizing and groundbreaking Black Byrd and the deceptively excellent Street Lady — by not featuring any of Roger Glenn’s flute, and by focusing on heavily melodic and laid-back arrangements. Even the speedy “You Are the World,” by some distance the most energetic song, seems more suited for relaxing in a hammock than shooting down a freeway. Many of the musicians present on the previous Byrd-Mizell meetings are here, including drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Chuck Rainey, keyboardist Jerry Peters, and guitarist David T. Walker. As ever, those who pined for the approach of Byrd’s ’60s dates would tune out a sublime set of material, but maybe some of those who sniffed at the straightforward nature of some of the rhythms and riffing were won over by the supreme layering of the many components (the way in which “Think Twice” lurches forward, peels back, and gathers steam is nothing short of heavenly), not to mention some deeply evocative playing from Byrd himself.
everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!
Preceding Breezin’, his crossover smash for Warner in 1976, Bad Benson shows the guitarist still hanging on to his Wes Montgomery roots in places while stretching his soul-jazz persona into even funkier arenas. CTI had a formula for making funky, accessible jazz and fusion records that in 1974 still held true. Arranged by Don Sebesky, Bad Benson is a collection of delicious, varied, and sometimes confusing choices. Benson’s own playing is precise and smooth as always, and guitarist Phil Upchurch keeps a large color palette for him to draw from, as in the funkified version of “Take Five.” Other notables are the stellar “My Latin Brother,” which begins as a Debussy-ian impressionistic string study before becoming a heavily arpeggiated variation on the samba. Kenny Barron’s pianism here is the driving force behind a rhythm section that also includes drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Ron Carter. They give Benson a harmonic floor for one of the most inspiring solos of his career. These intensely meaty cuts — along with Upchurch’s stellar swinging in the pocket groover “Full Compass” — are juxtaposed against ballads such as “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams” and “The Changing World,” a pair of ballads that ape Montgomery’s later snore-fest session for A&M. Thankfully, Legacy’s remastered CD version includes three bonus tracks from the session: a hip and syncopated read of “Take the ‘A’ Train” (with truly surreal and shimmering colors courtesy of Sebesky’s string section) and the amazingly driving, greasy funk of “Serbian Blue,” as well as a simply beautiful — and brief — solo from Benson called “From Now On.” Not a great album, but a very, very good one. (allmusic)
Personnel: George Benson (guitar); Phil Upchurch (guitar, electric bass, percussion); Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, Frank Levy, Jesse Levy, Paul Tobias, Seymour Barab (cello); Garnett Brown, Warren Covington, Wayne Andre (trombone); Paul Faulise (trombone bass), Alan Rubin, Joe Shepley, John Frosk (trumpet); Al Regni, George Marge, Phil Bodner, Ray Beckenstein (woodwind); Brooks Tillotson, Jim Buffington (french horn); Steve Gadd (drums); Margaret Ross (harp); Ron Carter (bass); Steve Gadd (drums).
everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!
“Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare” (aka “Almost human”) is one of the milestones of the Italian Police movies. This is the soundtrack with the music composed by Ennio Morricone and conducted by Bruno Nicolai, Morricone has created a symphonic score that alternates between dramatic, percussive moments and other romantic ones. The music is at the same time nostalgic and mysterious given by the frequent use of the sax, enjoy!
everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!
Besides being a great recording, this one also has some historical significance, as it is viewed by many as Chet’s “comeback” album. Although Baker recorded in the late sixties, they were really dreadful commercial albums. This is the first significant recording Chet made since the ’65 Prestige sessions. It also marks the beginning of a very successful association with Creed Taylor and CTI Records. Chet recorded some of best work for CTI in the mid-to-late 1970′s. Bob James’ electric piano and some strings (just the right amount) give this CD a unique flavor. Chet sings several ballads, and this is where you start to hear the change in his voice. It’s still soft and sincere, but it is lower and starting to show the ravishes of cigarettes and drugs. (chetbakertribute.com)
Personnel: Chet Baker (trumpet, vocals); Paul Desmond (alto saxophone); Bob James (electric piano); Ron Carter (bass); John DeJohnette (drums); Steve Gadd (drums); Dave Friedman (vibes); Hubert Laws (flute).
