Bop or Not Session #9 for Radio RAPTZ ~ Ladies First

The Be Hard Bop's show for Parisian webradio Radio RAPTZ including soul/jazz grooves by iconic songstress from US to Japan by Brazil & Europe featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Björk, Marlena Shaw, Elza Soares, Mieko Hirota, Minnie Riperton, Nina Simone and many more...

TRACKLiST : Ella Fitzgerald - Sunny - Björk - Ruby Ruby - Spanky Wilson - Kissing My Love - Nancy Holloway - Hurt So Bad - Marlena Shaw - California Soul - Shawn Robinson - Once And Again - Kimiko Kasai - I’m Walkin' - Leny Andrade -  Estamos Ai - Elza Soares - Cheguendengo - Doris - I’m Pushing You Out - Mieko Hirota - Easy Evil - Hatsumi Shibata - What A Diff'rence A Day Makes - Gal Costa - Samba Rasgado~A Preta Do Acarajé - Minnie Riperton - Adventure In Paradise - Nina Simone - I Got Life - Lulu - Feeling Alright - Sandy Shaw - Walking The Dog - Célia - Seriado

LiSTEN TO MiXCLOUD - FOLLOW ON RADiO RAPTZ

Lalo Schifrin - Music From Mission: Impossible

Year : 1967
Label : Dot Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soundtrack, Stage&Screen, Smooth Jazz

Lalo Schifrin is an argentine pianist, jazz composer and arranger who started as professional in France, recording several latin jazz records for Eddie Barclay's label Vogue. In the fifties, he's evolved in some of the finest Dizzie Gillepsie's formations, played with Duke Ellington and his countryfellow, saxophonist Gato Barbieri. In the sixties, he was recruited as arranger by Verve, collaborating to various songs arrangements for Stan Getz, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan or Jimmy Smith, among others. Lalo is best known as composer of numerous iconic soundtracks for films and television series which will made his fame : Mannix, the Dirty Harry's franchise, Bullitt, Enter The Dragon or Starsky & Hutch. The Lalo's sound is recognizable among all for his jazzy action themes whose the famous Mission Impossible's opening. "Mission impossible" is probably the best TV serie soundscape ever recorded, the sound of a jazzmen generation influenced by the psychedelic rock revolution, where features Mike Melvoin (piano), Bill Plummer (sitar), Bud Shank (saxophone, flute) and Stu Williamson (trumpet). Titles include the iconic opening theme and in particular "The Sniper" with pyschedelic dialogue between the Lalo's harpsichord and Bill Plummer's sitar (both associated with tribal percussions) and best theme of the serie "Jim On The Move" to the catchy latin beat.

Ode To Blue Note by Be Hard Bop

 

Tribute to Blue Note Records, the most famous american jazz label established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Recorded between 1966-1975, these thirteen tracks include various styles of Jazz produced by the Blue Note label, from Latin to Soul by Funk featuring Ronnie Foster, Bobby Hutcherson, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, Brother Jack McDuff, Bobbi Humphrey, Reuben Wilson, Alphonse Mouzon, Candido Camero & Duke Pearson. Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Ciné Jazz ~ A Cinematic Jazz Experience

Let yourself away on a cinematic journey through a selection of north american, japanese and european soundtracks including various popular themes of Blaxploitation (Coffy, Shaft), British crime films (Get Carter), TV screen series (Sanford & Son) or others tracks inspired. It features jazz or funk/soul artists such as James Brown, J.J. Johnson, The Blackbyrds, Quincy Jones, Roy Budd, Akira Ishikawa, Riz Ortolani, Giovanni Tommaso, Roy Ayers, Grant Green, Curtis Mayfield & many more... All tracks recorded between 1966 - 1978, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Ramsey Lewis - Mother Nature's Son

Year : 1968
Label : Chess/Cadet Records
Genre : Jazz, Electronic
Style : Jazz Funk, Pop

As the cover album "The Other Side Of Abbey Road" by George Benson, Ramsey Lewis revisits another great Beatles' act, the "White album", supported by strings ensemble and conducted by Charles Stepney featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. "Mother Nature's Son" includes ten songs extracted from the famous double album whose the "Back In The USSR" and "Blackbird" hit singles. The tracks are introduced with some experimental electronic effects produced by the moog synthesizer including jazz improvisations, pop rhythms and Funk/Soul accents. All tracks arranged by Charles Stepney.

Chet Baker ‎- Sextet & Quartet

Year : 1960
Label : Music Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Bop, Cool Jazz 

Also known as "Chet Baker In Milan" released on Jazzland U.S. label, "Sextet & Quartet" is a Bop & Cool Jazz album recorded during the Milanese sessions of Chet featuring only italian jazz musicians including Glauco Masetti (as), Gianni Basso (ts), Renato Sellani (p), Franco Cerri (b) and Gene Victory (ds). As title suggests, it includes tracks performed in quartet ("Look For The Silver", "Lady Bird", "Line For Lions", "Tune Up", "Cheryl Blues" & "Pent Up House"), while others performed in sextet where Gianni Basso and Glauco Masetti are added ("My Old Flame" & "Indian Summer"). All tracks was arranged by Giulio Libano and recorded september 25, 29 & october 6,1959 at Gurtler Studio in Milan.

This Is Soul Jazz ~ A Tribute To Hammond Organ

Tribute to the legendary Hammond B3, the organ star, in compilation of thirteen tracks performed by the main actors of the Soul Jazz style featuring Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers, Jimmy McGriff, Brother Jack McDuff with David "Fathead" Newman, Odell Brown & The Organizers, Shirley Scott & The Soul Saxes and more. All tracks released under famous Atlantic, Blue Note or Prestige labels, recorded between 1966-1973. compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Tom Scott & The L.A. Express - Tom Cat

Year : 1975
Label : Ode Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

The Last of two albums for Tom Scott featuring The L.A. Express before to continue their own career. The quartet back to the original formation of the "Miles Of Aisles" live performance, as backing band of folk-rock songstress Joni Mitchell, Joe Sample and Larry Carlton leaving the band replaced by Larry Nash & Robben Ford. The influence from the two Crusaders is still being felt on "Tom Cat", including the killer funk "Rock Island Rocket", "Love Poem" featuring Joni Mitchell & the spanish fusion "Rondo".

MUSICIANS : Tom Scott - woodwinds, percussion, keys - Robben Ford - electric & accoustic guitar - Max Bennett - bass - Larry Nash - electric Piano, organ, synthesizer  -  John Guerin - drums, percussion 

Tom Scott And The L.A. Express (Self-Titled)

Year : 1974
Label : Ode Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

The L.A. Express is a Los Angeles supergroup originally formed in 1973 as backing band for jazz saxophonist Tom Scott, playing crossover jazz featuring the two Crusaders, Larry Carlton & Joe Sample. The band was recruited by Joni Mitchell for her live performance in 1974 (Miles Of Aisles) and later for the studio album, "Hissing Of Summer Lawns" in 1975. Tom Scott is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, former member of the legendary Blues Brothers band, session musician for Gabor Szabo, Quincy Jones, Billy Cobham, George Harrison, Paul McCartney or The Grateful Dead, and composer of famous TV series themes "Starsky & Hutch" and "The Streets Of San Francisco". Titles include four Scott's compositions "King Cobra", "Easy Life", "Spindrift", "Strut Your Stuff" and variation of "Dahomey Dance" by John Coltrane.

MUSICIANS : Tom Scott - horns, woodwind - Joe Sample - keyboards - Larry Carlton - guitar - Max Bennett - bass - John Guerin - drums & percussion

A Day In The Life ~ The Beatles by Various Artists

The popular cover songs from The Beatles performed by the giants of Jazz, Soul & Pop music. The group forever marked the history of music as evidenced these eighteen incredible tracks, recorded between 1966-1974, featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Grant Green, Ramsey Lewis, Sergio Mendes, Jackie Wilson, Sandie Shaw & many more... Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Brother Jack McDuff - Moon Rappin'

Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

Recorded in four days in New York, december 1969, "Moon Rappin" is a typical Soul Jazz-Funk album of its time, featuring Richard Davis, Joe Dukes and the voice of Soul/Jazz songstress Jean DuShon. "Moon Rappin" explores the space soundscapes including reverb effects, straight-ahead jazz codes, bluesy inspirations. An iconic album sampled many times by various Hip-Hop artists such as A Tribe Called Quest on "Scenario" (The Low End Theory - 1991), which contains a sample of "Oblighetto", or more recently the eponymous track by the Hip-Hop collective from Brooklyn "Pro Era" on "Vinyls" (P.E.E.P: The aPROcalypse - 2012). All tracks produced & arranged by Brother Jack McDuff.

MUSICIANS : Brother Jack McDuff - organ - Bill Phillips - tenor saxophone, flute - Richard Davis - bass - Jerry Byrd - guitar - Joe Dukes - drums - Jean DuShon - vocal

Groove Holmes - American Pie

Year : 1972
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

"American Pie" is representative of influences to the British Acid Jazz movement in the nineties, whose the fatherhood could be return to Holmes. An album in the same way as his previous "Comin' On Home" released on Blue Note records, including stoned-soul grooves and heavy funk, his first recording for the label of Sonny Lester, "Groove Merchant". Titles include "American Pie" by Don McLean, the Sonny Rollins' standard, "St. Thomas", the demonstrative "Fingers" and a variation of the Jimmy Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day". 

MUSICIANS : Richard "Groove" Holmes - organ - Larry Willis - electric piano - Gerald Hubbard - guitar - Jerry Jemmott - bass - Kwasi Jay Ourba - drums, congas, bongos

Lou Donaldson - Say It Loud !

Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

More pop language for Lou Donaldson, using the varitone process, an amplification system for saxophone. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Charles Earland, Blue Mitchell, Jimmy Ponder, and his sideman, Idris Muhammad, play under the Blues/Boogie mode, making of "Say It Loud!" one of his funkiest album. The first side is devoted to covers songs including the opening track, the iconic protest song of James Brown and two great jazz standards, "Summertime" revisited in a latin variation and "Caravan", while the other side consists on two originals (Snake Bone, Brother Soul) composed by Lou Donaldson.

MUSICIANS : Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone - Blue Mitchell - trumpet - Charles Earland - organ - Jimmy Ponder - guitar - Idris Muhammad - drums

Harold Alexander - Sunshine Man

Year : 1971
Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Soul Jazz masterpiece including the two iconic "Mama Soul/Sunshine Man" tracks by saxophonist/flutist Harold 'Jazzbo' Alexander featuring pianist Neal Creque, drummer Bernard Purdie, percussionist Richard Landrum & bassist Richard Davis. Harold Alexander shared stage alongside Elvin Jones, Jimmy Davis or Eric Dolphy, session musician in groups Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers with Neal Creque & Richard Landrum, and was sideman for organist Big John Patton during the "Understanding" & "Boogaloo" sessions recordings. He released two others albums during this period, "Are You Ready ?" (live recording at the Montreux Jazz Festival) and the "Raw Root" in 1974, before leave the world of music. All tracks composed & arranged by Harold Alexander.

Buddy Rich - Roar Of '74

Year : 1974
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Contempory Jazz, Funk/Soul

The "Roar of '74" is the first of five albums released by the Buddy Rich Big Band on the crossover jazz label, "Groove Merchant", founded by band leader Sonny Lester. Drummer Buddy Rich goes on his Rhythm & Blues orientation (started in 1971 with "A Different Drummer" album), featuring guitarist Joe Beck, bassist Tony Levin, pianist Buddy Budson & soloist saxophonist Pat LaBarbera. Titles include jazz covers from Horace Silver (Nutville) with insane drum breaks, Duke Ellington (Prelude To A Kiss), the heavy funk "Big Mac", "Kilimanjaro Cookout" to the african expressions (arranged by Manny Albam), and the two pure Big Band style "Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters" & "Senator Sam". All tracks produced by Sonny Lester.

Ain't It Funky Now ? ~ The Deepest Soul Expressions Of Jazz

The deepest Jazz grooves when Jazzmen speak to the Soulmen in sixteen tracks featuring some of the best performers from the crossover Jazz/Funk scene including Bernard Purdie, Idris Muhammad, Freddie Hubbard, Eumir Deodato, Billy Cobham, Harvey Mason, Roy Ayers & many more... All tracks recorded between 1969-1975, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

The Eleventh House With Larry Coryell - Introducing The Eleventh House

Year : 1974

Label: Vanguard

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Rock, Jazz Funk, Fusion

Debut album introducing the new band of Larry Coryell, the jazz fusion group "The Eleventh House" featuring trumpeter Randy Brecker, pianist Mike Mandel, bassist Danny Trifan & drummer Alphonse Mouzon. During their short-lived career, the group released three others albums before split, "Level One" in 1975 and "Aspects" in 1976, plus live recording "At Montreux" performed in 1974. Titles include the demonstrative guitar solo "Gratitude 'A So Low" performed by Larry Coryell, the heavy rock "Ism-Ejercicio", the funky "Right On Y'all", "The Funky Waltz" composed by Alphonse Mouzon, "Adam Smasher" & "Joy Ride" by Mike Mandel.

Freddie Hubbard ‎- First Light

Year : 1971
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Soul Jazz

The third CTI album released by genius trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, can be seen as the final part of a jazz trilogy including his two previous albums, "Red Clay" and "Straight Life" recorded in 1970. "First Light" is a jazz masterpiece with beautiful strings arrangements by master Don Sebesky, featuring the greatest players of their times among guitarist George Benson, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack DeJohnette and pianist Richard Wyands. Titles include the title-track (a replay to "Red Clay"), funky variation of the Paul McCartney's classic "Uncle Albert/Admiral Hasley", and the sweet mood of "Moment To Moment", "Yesterday's Dreams" & "Lonely Town".

Henry Cain - The Funky Organ-ization Of Henry Cain

Year : 1968
Label : Capitol
Genre : Jazz, Soul
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

"The Funky Organ-ization" is a cover album from Jazz to Soul by Rhythm&Blues including a funky set of eleven Soul Jazz tracks recorded in 1967, performed by session musician, organist Henry Cain, produced by David Axelrod and arranged by saxophonist Oliver Nelson. The tracklist consists of jazz covers "The Way I Feel" of John Patton, "I'm On My Way" of Cannonball/Nat Adderlay Jr., Soul classics "Respect" & "Sunny", Oliver Nelson's "Critic's Choice" and original composition by Henry Cain "Horror Scope". All tracks arranged by H. B. Barnum & Oliver Nelson.

MUSICIANS : Henry Cain - organ  - James Bond - bass - Earl Palmer - drums - Arthur Wright & Howard Roberts - guitar - H. B. Barnum, John Kelson & Plas Johnson - saxophone - Fred Hill & Tony Terran - trumpet - Gary Coleman & Jerry Williams - vibes & percussions

Jaki Byard - The Jaki Byard Experience

Year : 1969
Label : Prestige
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Modal, Free Jazz

"The Jaki Byard Experience" featuring pianist Jaki Byard, saxophonist Roland Kirk, bassist Richard Davis & drummer Alan Dawson, was recorded in 1968 with sound engineer Rudy Van Gelder. All are bring together in an iconic classic of the Prestige label considered as a masterpiece of the history of Jazz. Jaki Byard & his combo explore various styles of Jazz including New Orleans (Shine On Me, Memories Of You), Spiritual (Hazy Eye), Free (Parisian Thoroughfare) & Modal styles (Evidence).