Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five With Friends - Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu


Year : 2007
Label : VAP
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

One of the finest Yuji Ohno productions from the last years, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the "Lupin The 3rd Part II" serie TV birth, in a 19th annual Lupin TV Special broadcast episode. Yuji Ohno & his young new group "Lupintic Five", formed in 2006, perform crossover jazz in the same approach as the CTI recordings from the seventies, including beautiful arrangements for strings, Funk/Soul elements (Opus 45 & 8), Smooth Jazz (Iseka's Theme, Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu) and Cool Jazz (Opus 3La Valse Froide). The band is also supported by various guests musicians featuring flutist Masami Nakagawa, former member of the Masahiko Togashi Quartet & the Gil Evans Orchestra, Kiyoshi Yoshida (synthesizer), Hajime Ueshiba (whistle), Tatuya Nishiwaki (harmonica) and J-Pop songstress Miki Imai on "Love Theme" song. 

LUPINTIC FIVE : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Satoshi Izumi - guitar - Masayuki Tawarayama - wood bass, electric bass - Keiji Matsushima - trumpet - Hisatsugu Suzuki - soprano & tenor sax - Yoshihito Eto - drums 

TRACKLIST :  Opus 1 - Iseka's ThemeOpus 2 - Theme From Lupin The Third 'Ice blue' Version - Opus 3 - Opus 4Opus 5 - Opus 6 - Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu - Opus 7 - La Valse Froide Opus 8 - Opus 9 - Theme From Lupin III 'Elusive' Version  - Love Theme Feat. Miki Imai

LISTEN SAMPLE

The Helpful Soul - First Album


Year : 1969
Label : Victor
Genre : Rock
Style : Blues Rock, Psychedelic rock

"Helpful Soul" is the first album of phenomenal japanese short-lived psychedelic rock band from Kobe, featuring the frontman bassist Charles Che, lead guitarist Gene Shoji, vocalist/guitarist Junio Nakahara & drummer Eiichi TsukasaThe band started in 1965 as the "Young Beats" and recorded only one album and the Osamu Tezuka's animated movie "A Thousand & One Nights" soundtrack, before split-up during the summer of 1969. Charles Che was the pseudonym of famous Charlie Kosei, best known as original performer of the opening and ending themes from the Lupin III 1st serie (1971-1972). Titles incude original compositions by Helful Soul (Blues For My Baby, Peace For Fools) and blues & standards from Jimi Hendrix (Fire, You Got Me Floatin'), Willie Dixon (Spoonful) & Robert Johnson (Crossroads).


Monday, November 24, 2008

Earth Wind And Fire (Self-Titled)


Year : 1970
Label : Warner
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Soul, Jazz Funk

The Psychedelic Soul debut album by one of most great funk band of all the time far from the Boogie-Funk sound which made them famous in the mid-seventies. Earth, Wind & Fire was formed in 1969 by Maurice White, a session drummer for Chess records and former member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, pianists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. The band left their mark in 1971, on the soundtrack of famous blaxploitation film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" starring & directed by Melvin Van Peebles. In 1974, the core of the band collabored to the Ramsey Lewis album "Sun Goddess" which contributes to their renown. Titles include the Latin Funk "Help Somebody", "C'mon Children", "Bad Tune" sampled by Brand Nubian for "Dance For My Ministry" in 1990 and DJ Shadow for "In/Flux" in 1993. All songs arranged by Earth, Wind & Fire, all songs written & composed Maurice White, Wade Flemons, Don Whitehead except "C'mon Children" & "Bad Tune" by Michael Beale/Verdine Adams .

MUSICIANS : Maurice White - drums, percussion, kalimba, vocals - Verdine Adams - bass - Michael Beale - guitar - Phillard Williams - percussion, congas - Don Whitehead - piano, electric piano - Chester Washington - reeds - Alex Thomas - trombone - Leslie Drayton - trumpet - Sherry Scott - vocals - Wade Flemons - vocals, electric piano

LISTEN SAMPLE

Yusef Lateef's Detroit Latitude 42° 30' Longitude 83°


Year : 1969
Label :
Atlantic
Genre :
Jazz
Style :
Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Legendary member of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet between 1962 to 1964, Yusef Lateef  was one of the american jazz greats, multi-instrumentalist who played as well all saxophones as various types of flute, orchestral instruments (oboe, bassoon) and clarinet. "Detroit" is the first Lateef's jazz incursion in the Soul music genre to the funk accents (Bishop School, Eastern Market). Lateef has recruited musicians accustomed to the style including rhythm section featuring Eric Gale, Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, Hugh Lawson, Chuck Rainey & Cecil McBee, all supported by brass & strings section featuring trumpeters Thad Jones & Jimmy Owens. From Hard Bop to the Soul Jazz style, titles include only compositions by Yusef Lateef except "That Lucky Old Sun" composed and written by Beasley Smith & Haven Gillepsie.

Yusef Lateef _flute & tenor saxophone
Hugh Lawson_piano
Cecil McBee_bass
Chuck Rainey_electric bass
Eric Gale_guitar
Bernard Purdie_drums
Albert "Tootie" Heath_percussion
Norman Pride & Ray Barreto_congas

01. Bishop School
02. Livingston Playground
03. Eastern Market
04. Belle Isle
05. Russel & Eliot
06. Raymond Winchester
07. Woodward Avenue
08. That Lucky Old Sun


Monday, November 17, 2008

Various - Cowboy Bebop Remixes : Music For Freelance


Year : 1999
Label : Victor
Genre : Electronic
Style : Trip-Hop, Breakbeat, Downtempo

Tribute to the famous "Cowboy Bebop Original Soundtrack" originally composed by Yoko Kanno and performed by The Seatbelts, remixed by popular British & American DJs from legendary Trip-Hop labels among MO WAX (Luke Vibert) and NINJA TUNE (Mr Scruff, DJ Vadim). "Music For Freelance" is a concept album based on a fictional pirate radio station broadcasted on the space waves from Cowboy Bebop universe in 2071, introduced humorously by the mysterious radio host Peter Duimstra, including jingles mixed by MC Yota from Oxygen Funk. Titles include remixes of opening song "Tank!" by Luke Vibert, ending theme from session 13 (Jupiter Jazz Part 2) "Space Lion", "Cats On Mars" performed by Gabriela Robin (aka Yoko Kanno), "Fantaisie Sign" by Carla Vallet and regular songs of the Cowboy Bebop soundscape.


TRACKLIST : Luke Vibert - Tank! by The Seatbelts (Luke Vibert Remix) / Fila BraziliaForever Broke by The Seatbelts (Fila Brazilia Remix) / DMX Krew - Cats On Mars by Gabriela Robin (DMX Krew Remix) / Ian Obrien Piano Black by The Seatbelts (Ian Obrien Remix) / Mr Scruff - Cat Blues by The Seatbelts (Mr Scruff Remix) / DJ Vadim - Fe by The Seatbelts (DJ Vadim Remix) / Ian Pooley - Fantaisie Sign by Carla Vallet (Ian Pooley Remix) / 4 Hero - Space Lion by The Seatbelts (4 Hero Remix)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Nujabes, Various - Hyde Out Productions - First Collection


Year : 2003
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop, Electronic
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

Jun Seba aka Nujabes is a japanese hip-hop producer, beatmaker and DJ, owner of independant label Hyde-Out Recordings. Mostly influenced by the Cool Jazz of Miles Davis or various works from Yusef Lateef, Nujabes performs downtempo, a blend of Jazz with electronic overtones. He produced various american, japanese and european rappers from the alternative Hip-Hop scene  including Five Deez, Substantial or his fellow countryman, Shing02. In 2002, he was recruited to collaborate in the development of the Samurai Champloo soundscape among others Fat Jon, Tsutchie & FORCE OF NATURE. This compilation showcases the Nujabes' touch productions, combining Hip-Hop & Future Jazz including instrumentals tracks by Nujabes, several of his productions, remixes by Fat Jon & Monorisick plus collaborations with rappers L-Universe, Substantial, Apani B, Funky DL, Pase Rock from Five Deez, Cise Star from CYNE & Shing02. All tracks produced & mixed by Nujabes except "It's About Time" by Fat Jon The Ample Soul Physician.

TRACKLIST : Nujabes - Moon Strut (Intro) / Funky DL Feat. Monorisick Don't Even Try It / Apani B. Fly Emcee - Strive / Substantial - Home Sweet Home / Nujabes - Still Talking To You / Shing02 Luv (Sic) Feat. DJ Top Bill Nujabes - Steadfast Substantial & L-Universe - Lyrical Terrorists / L-Universe - Lose My Religion (Remix) Pase Rock It's About Time (Fat Jon Remix) / Five Deez Plazma Avenue (Remix) Cise Star Feat. El-Orbit D.T.F.N. / Funky DL Feat. Monorisick - People's Don't Stray / Shing02 Feat. DJ Dai Nasty- Luv (Sic) Pt. 2. 

LISTEN SAMPLE

Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up


Year : 1968
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Debut album of Archie Bell & The Drells supported by the Atlantic session musicians including their Billaboard number-one single "Tighten Up". The Drells is a Soul vocal band formed in 1966 in Houston, Texas, led by Archie Bell surrounded by James Wise, Willie Parnell & Billy Butler. In 1968, they sign on Atlantic Records which brings them the writing star duo Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff for their second album "I Can't Stop Dancing". During a decade they released seven albums whose three for Atlantic before to split in 1979. Titles include the two Soul Stax Records classics, "Knock On Wood" (Eddie Floyd), "In the Midnight Hour" (Wilson Pickett) and original compositions written by Archie Bell (When You Left Heartache Began, A Soldier's Prayer, 1967).

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Bob James - Three

  
Year : 1976
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The penultimate Bob James album coming from the famous Smooth Jazz tetralogy "One, Two, Three & BJ 4" featuring guest musician saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.. "Three" crosses various musical jazz styles ranging from Funk (Storm King) to Smooth Jazz, passing by caribbean overtones including reggae tunes (Women Of Ireland, Jamaica Farewell). The Bob James line-up consists of his usual rhythm section based on Gary King, Harvey Mason, Eric Gale and session musicians such as drummer Andy Newmark & guitarist Jeff Mironov (added on "One Mint Julep"), all supported by horns section & strings ensemble. All tracks arranged & conducted by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary KingWill Lee_bass
Harvey Mason_drums
Eric Gale & Hugh McCracken_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Grover Washington Jr. & Tin Whistle_tenor saxophone
Hubert Laws & Jerry Dodgion_flute

01. One Mint Julep 
02. Women Of Ireland
03. Westchester Lady
04. Storm King
05. Jamaica Farewell

LISTEN SAMPLE

Airto Moreira - Free


Year : 1972
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Samba, Modal

First of four discs serie recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder for the famous Creed Taylor's CTI label by brazilian percussionist, Airto Moreira, former member of jazz fusion group "Return To Forever". Airto was a sought-after artist among the Creed Taylor's session musicians, he played with others latin artists such as Hermeto Pascoal, Eumir Deodato or Gato Barbieri, cantor of Free Jazz, but also jazz legend Freddie Hubbard. The line-up is based on the "Return To Forever" band featuring leader Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell, Airto's wife Flora Purim, including others remarkable soloists such as George Benson, Hubert Laws & Keith Jarrett, all conducted by Don Sebesky. Titles include the tribute "Return To Forever" by Chick Corea, the "Flora's 'Purim' Song", the percussion suite "Free", "Lucky Southern" by Keith Jarrett and the jazz samba, "Creek (Arroio)" composed by Victor Brazil

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Bob James - Two


Year : 1975
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

Volume 2 of the Bob James' jazz funk tetralogy featuring CTI All-Stars musicians and special guests, songstress Patti Austin, bassist Gary King, drummer Steve Gadd & flutist Hubert Laws. As the previous "One", the formation is supported by strings ensemble and horns section including trumpeter Randy Brecker. Titles include  "Take Me To The Mardi Gras", one of the most widely used tracks in Hip-Hop breakbeat samples (N.W.A., Beastie Boys, Run-DMC), "I Feel A Song" featuring Patti Austin and variation on "Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2)" taken from classical french composition by George Bizet. All tracks conducted & arranged by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

MUSICIANS : Bob James - keyboards / Eric Gale - guitar & bass / Richie Resnicoff - guitar /
Andrew Smith - drums / Arthur Jenkins & Ralph McDonald - percussions / Randy Brecker - trumpet Gary King - bass / Steve Gadd - drums / Hubert Laws - flute

TRACKLIST : Bob James - Take Me To The Mardi Gras / Bob James Feat. Patti Austin - I Feel A Song / Bob James Feat. Steve Gadd & Gary King - The Golden Apple / Bob James Feat. Hubert Laws - Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2) / Bob James - You're Right As Rain - Dream Journey

Ann Young & Yuji Ohno Trio - As Well Be Spring


Year : 1975
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Cool Jazz, Contempory Jazz

The only one leader album knew nowadays of jazz songstress Ann Young supported by the Yuji Ohno Trio featuring Yuji Ohno (p, el-p), Yoshio Ikeda (b) & Kazuyoshi Okayama (ds). This beautiful american voice to the soulful expressions, between Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson, came out in the spotlight thanks to Yuji Ohno, is virtually unknown outside Japan where she was a club singer and former vocalist for japanese pianist Masao YagiAnn Young sings the popular songs from the forties and the fifties including a killer version of "Speak Low" with Latin breaks and others jazz standards popularized by the great ladies of jazz among Sarah Vaughan ("It Might as Well Be Spring", 1949, "Old Devil Moon", 1954), Billy Holliday ("Don't Explain" 1944, "There Is No Greater Love" 1947) or Peggy Lee ("I Only Have Eyes For You" 1947). All tracks arranged by Yuji Ohno.


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Nitro Microphone Underground - Nitro Microphone Underground


Year : 2000/1999
Label : Reality Records/Def Jam Japan
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Funk/Soul, Hip-Hop Soul

Often compared to the "Wu-Tang Clan", Nitro Microphone Underground is a japanese Hip-Hop collective formed in 1997 featuring eight MCs including Bigzam, Dabo, Deli, Gore-Tex, Macka-Chin, S-Word, Suiken & XBS. S-Word & Suiken took part to the Samourai Champloo original soundtrack with "出ズル STYLE" supported by the DJs duo FORCE OF NATURE. Debut album "Nitro Microphone Underground" was originally released on the japanese label Reality Records before to be issued by Def Jam Japan, making of the crew the first japanese Hip-Hop band to sign on the label. The album brings together studio and live recordings including the singles "Bambu" & "Live '99".

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Bob James - One


Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

First of a four serie albums recorded for CTI  between 1974-1977, by american jazz pianist and arranger Bob James, proclaimed as the "Godfather" of the Smooth Jazz. Bob James plays with a large ensemble of musicians featuring Gary King, Idris Muhammad & Grover Washington Jr., all supported by a strings section. After a period as sideman for Sarah Vaughan from 1965 to 1968, he become one of favorites studio musicians for the Creed Taylor's new label, CTI. During the decade 1970, he played a major role in turning Jazz into Jazz Funk as producer and arranger. With "One", Bob James revisits great works of classical music, the Mussorgsky's "Night On Bald Mountain" & "In The Garden" based on "Canon In D" by Pachelbel. Others titles include original compositions by Bob James, "Valley Of The Shadow", "Soulero" featuring guest saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and "Nautilus" (sampled by Run-D.M.C. on "Beats to the Rhyme" & Ghostface Killah on "Daytona 500"). Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder studio, arranged & conducted by Bob James.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King_bass
Richie Resnicoff_guitar
Idris Muhammad & Steve Gadd_drums
Ralph McDonald_percussion
Grover Whashington Jr._soprano saxophone

01. Valley Of The Shadows                        
02. In The Garden
03. Soulero
04. Night On Bald Mountain
05. Feel Like Making Love
06. Nautilus

LISTEN SAMPLE

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Ben & The Platano Group - Paris Soul

 
Year : 1971
Label : Barclay
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Jazz Rock, Afro-Cuban Jazz

Ben & The Platano Group consists in the meeting of various musicians who were active in the parisian nights during the seventies, including ''Le Lido'' cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. Composed with collaboration of Manuel Itturia and arranged by Roger Lecussant, who presents himself as Evaristo Nata, "Paris Soul" is conducted by percussionist & leader Ben Ahmed Zouber. The Platano Group distills a blend of Afro-Cuban flavors, Brazilian rhythms & Latin Funk, played in the purest style of Mongo Santamaria and Candido Camero, including titles from Paris Soul 45rpm "Paris Soul/Cabaret" (1971), Afro-Cuban killer tunes "Salute Tu Santa" & "Art Pino Pasta".

TSUTCHIE/FORCE OF NATURE - Samurai Champloo Music Record : Masta


Year : 2004
Label :
Victor
Genre :
Electronic, Hip-Hop, Stage & Screen
Style :
Downtempo, Breakbeat, Jazzy Hip-Hop

"Samurai Champloo" is an animated serie directed by Shin'ichirō Watanabe (also in charge of Cowboy BeBop serie), broadcast on Fuji TV in 2004. A four discs serie was released in 2004, produced and recorded by japanese DJs Nujabes, FORCE OF NATURE, TSUTCHIE and american producer Fat Jon. The "MASTA" volume was directed by the breakbeat duo "FORCE OF NATURE" and TSUTCHIE, member of Japanese Hip-Hop band Shakkazombie, including three regular themes used in the serie (Numbernine [Back in TYO]Raw MaterialPretending To...) and the special ending theme of episode 17, "YOU" featuring R&B songstress Kazami.

FORCE OF NATURE [SAMPLE]
TSUTCHIE [SAMPLE]

Electro Keyboard Orchestra - Electro Keyboard Orchestra


Year : 1975
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Electronic
Style : Space Age, Fusion, Jazz Funk

"Electro Keyboard Orchestra" is a concept album of  "Space Age" Jazz based on the KORG synthesizer 700S & 800DV keyboards, highlighting electronic overtones (as evindenced "The African Dawn" composed by Masahiko Sato), featuring eight renowned japanese, supported by a rhythm section including guitarist Ken Yajima, bassist Akira Okazawa and drummer Shuichi 'Ponta' Murakami. The eight keyboardists consist of Yuji Ohno from the original Terumasa Hino Quartet (best known for the "Captain Future" & "Lupin The 3rd" soundtracks), the arranger Hiromasa Suzuki (member of Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalo Rock Band), Kentaro Haneda ("Space Adventure Cobra" OST), Masahiko Sato (in groups The Soundbreakers, Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd), Hideo Ichikawa (The Beat Generation, George Kawaguchi's The Big 4, Kosuke Mine Quintet and George Otsuka Trio), but also Masao Yagi, Shigeto O'Hara and Sadayasu Fujii. The whole album reminds the Herbie Hancock's jazz funk style (in particular "The Heated Point" composed by Hiromasa Suzuki) including variations on "Ritual Fire Dance" (composition of Manuel De Falla, arranged by Masao Yagi), "The Iron Side" of Quincy Jones (arr. Hiromasa Suzuki), "Mother of Future" composed by Carlos Garnett (arr. Masahiko Sato). Titles include also others compositions by Yuji Ohno (The Soaring Seagull, Mayflower) and Masao Yagi (Farewell, Onoda).


Thursday, November 6, 2008

Love Live Life + One - Love Will Make A Better You


Year : 1971
Label : King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Rock
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock

"Love Live Life + One" was a japanese progressive rock band including Jazz, Funk & Soul elements, lead by the saxophonist Kosuke Ichihara featuring the frontman Akira Fusé, an iconic japanese actor and singer. "Love Live Life" (also known as "3L") is formed by prestigious members of various famous jazz rock groups as The Beat Generation, The Sound Limited or Count Buffalos among Toshiaki Yokota (fl), Masaoki Terakawa (eb), Takao Naoi (eg), rock avant-garde musicians Kimio Mizutani (eg), Hiro Yanagida (org), supported by Chito Kawachi (ds) & Naomi Kawahara (perc). Between 1971 and 1975, the band released four others albums between 1971 and 1975, whose the last act is "Now Sound '75" dedicated to the Min'yō, the japanese folk music genre. "Love Will Make A Better You" includes experimental art-rock suite "The Question Mark", the insane hard rock piece with the Fusé's evil screams "Love Will Make A Better You", the psychedelic groove "Running Free", "Shadow Of The Mind" and the heavy blues rock "Facts About It All". All tracks composed & arranged by Kosuke Ichihara

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