Friday, March 23, 2012

Melvin Sparks - Akilah !


Year : 1972
Label : Prestige
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

Sparks' third LP recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder with guests Hubert Laws (flute on The Image Of Love), Ernie Royal and George Coleman (respectively trumpet & alto saxophone on  Akilah). Personnel of rhythm section features Idris Muhammad, Leon Spencer and Buddy Caldwell. Titles include all compositions by Melvin Sparks except Love The Life You Live by Kool & The Gang, The Image Of Love by Leon Spencer. Orchestrations arranged by Billy Ver Plank.

Melvin Sparks_guitar
Leon Spencer_organ
Buddy Caldwell_percussion
Idris Muhammad_drums 
Virgil Jones_trumpet
Dave Hubbard_alto saxophone & flute 
Frank Wess_tenor saxophone
Sonny Fortune_alto saxophone

01. Love The Life You Live
02. On The Up
03. All Wrapped Up
04. Akilah
05. Blues For J.B.
06. The Image Of Love

Takehiro Honda - Another Departure


Year : 1977
Label : Flying Disk
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contemporary Jazz, Fusion
   
"Another Departure" is first part of recording sessions at Vanguard Studio from 2, 3 May 1977, New York by pianist Takehiro Honda featuring jazz legends, Ron Carter & Tony Williams, former members of the Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet from 1965 to 1968. Honda was one of the most renowned japanese jazz pianist, influenced by McCoy Tyner, he started in 1966 as member of japanese rock band "The Mojo" during the 'Group Sounds' era. Thereafter, he formed his first own jazz trio in 1968 with drummer Hiroshi Murakami, bassist Eijiro Hagiwara and played in various prestigious japanese jazz formations such as the Nobuo Hara's Sharps & Flats Big Band. In 1969, he recorded his debut album "Takehiro Honda Meets Rhythm Section" featuring the Sadao Watanabe Quartet opening a fruitful period of masterpieces production. From 1973 to 1978, he was sideman for Sadao Watanabe taking part to his studio recordings ("Kenya Africa", "Recital"...) and live tours (Montreux Jazz Festival in 1975), before to form his famous successful Jazz Funk band "Native Son" with saxophonist Kohsuke Mine & Hiroshi Murakami. Titles include contemporary Jazz (Longing, Puddle), Soul Jazz (Wonder), Carribean fusion (Calypso Street) and Jazz Funk (Spirits Flow). All tracks composed by Takehiro Honda, produced by Kiyoshi Itoh & Yukio Morisaki.


Nobuo Hara & His Sharps & Flats, Hozan Yamamoto - Sharps & Flats In Newport


Year : 1967
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, World, Traditional, Big Band

Sharps & Flats lead by saxophonist Nobuo Hara meet Hozan Yamamoto, featuring Hiroshi Suzuki (tb), Koji Suzuki (as), Teruyuki Fukushima (tp), Toshihiko Ogawa (p) Hiroshi Takeuchi (b) among others. Hozan Yamamoto was the most famous shakuhachi musician (japanese bamboo flute), internationally renowned as pioneer for the traditional instruments introduction into modern music, in particular in Jazz. All tracks were extracted from recording sessions in studio under a replay form of their first live performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1967. "Sharps & Flats In Newport" is the meeting between Jazz and the japanese folk music, including the bamboo flute on various tracks inspired by japanese traditional music and composed by Nobuo Hara (Hakone Mago Uta, Midare, Geisha Girl). Titles include also japanese jazz standard "Sakura Sakura", songs in the Buddy Rich Big Band style (Sohran-Bushi, Awa Dance) and the Bobby Timmons' classic "So Tired" played in the Bossa Nova mode. All tracks conducted by Nobuo Hara, arranged by Norio Maeda & Kiyoshi Yamaya.

Lafayette Afro-Rock Band - Soul Makossa


Year : 1974
Label : Makossa
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Afro-Funk

Lafayette Afro-Rock Band is an american jazz funk group including african influences formed on the Bobby Boyd Congress ashes, featuring Lafayette Hudson (eb), Larry Jones (eg), Frank Abel (keys), Arthur Young & Ronnie Buttacavoli (tp), with Ernest Donnable (ds), Keno Speller (perc) in addition. Based in Paris from 1971 to 1978, the band also known as "Ice", released six albums and several singles under others names. They started on stage in Parisian district "Barbès", the french core of african cultures in the seventies, where they were spotted by cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and jazz producer Pierre Jaubert. Titles include the afro-funk classic by Manu Dibango "Soul Makossa", afro-cuban flavor "Azeta", the jazz rock tune "Oglenon" and  the heavy funks "Voodounon", "Hihache" & "Nicky".

Ron Carter - Spanish Blue


Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion
Website : Roncater.net

Third album of jazz bassist recorded for CTI performed by bassist Ron Carter. An Andalusian breeze blows on Spanish Blue,  a sensuous atmosphere created by playing of Hubert Laws and Jay Berliner. Titles include the reinterpretation of masterpiece So What? from the Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue (1959), spanish vibes to the flamenco accents (El Noche Sol & Sabado Sombrero) and the last groovy track called Arkansas featuring the great solos of Hubert Laws and Ron Carter. Produced by Creed Taylor and recorded at Studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Ron Carter _bass, piccolo bass
Hubert Laws_flute
Roland Hanna & Leon Pendarvis _electric piano, piano
Jay Berliner_guitar
Billy Cobham_drums, field drum
Ralph MacDonald_percussion

01. El Noche Sol
02. So What
03. Sabado Sombrero
04. Arkansas

Oneness Of Juju - African Rhythms


Year : 1975
Label : Black Fire
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Spiritual Jazz, Afrobeat

Essential debut album of american Afro-Jazz-Funk collective formed around brothers saxophonist James and bassist Philip Branch, known as Plunky & Muzi Nkabinde. "African Rhythms" fits into the panafricanism way, incarnation of the fusion between African roots and Afro-American culture, including traditional African percussions (balophone, marimbas), Spiritual Jazz and Rhthyms&Blues elements. During the seventies, the collective released two others recordings "Space Jungle Luv" in 1976 and "Make A Change" under the Plunky And Oneness Of Juju's name on the former jazz DJ and producer, Jimmy Gray's label "Black Fire". Titles include their best known single and anthem "African Rhythms" in extented version, the heavy funks "Kazi", "Poo Too", "Liberation Dues",  "Don't Give Up" & "Mashariki" featuring the thrilling voice of Eka-Ete Jackie Lewis and the spirtual "Inconito". Composed & arranged by Oneness Of Juju.

Mongo Santamaria - Up From The Roots


Year :
1972
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Afro-Cuban Jazz
 
One of the main actor to the success of Afro-Cuban Jazz in the US with the standard "Afro-Blue" popularized by John Coltrane, Mongo Santamaria was also known as a major figure of fusion between latin beat and Soul music. "Up From the Roots", thirty years after his first work as a leader, is an ode to cuban percussions exploring the African roots of Caribbean music including various dances and songs from Guaguanco (En La Habana) to Mambo (Conga, Bata, Y Chequere) and Rumba (Me Buele La Muele). Titles include also typical Afro-Cuban Jazz track "Para Ti" and the funky "Jose Outside". It features Carter Jefferson & Bill Saxon (sax), Lew Soloff & Jon Faddis (tp), Eddy Martinez (p) - Eddie Rivera (b), Steve Barrios (ds).

Yuji Ohno - Original Soundtrack From Lupin The 3rd


Year : 1978
Label : Satril/Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco

Original Soundtrack Vol. 2 of the Lupin The 3rd animated serie performed by You & The Explosion Band featuring Takeru Muraoka & guests musicians such as percussionist Hiromitsu Katada or accordionist Fumihiko Kazama. Titles include new opening ("Lupin III '79") & ending themes (the Fujiko's song "Love Squall" feat. Sandi H. Hohn) recorded for the third season of Lupin III Part II (from episode 52 to 103), "Tornado" (the Jigen Daisuke's theme), "Sphynx" (also extracted from "Lupin VS Mamo" 1978 movie), "Super Hero" feat. Tommy Snyder & "Zantetsuken" (the Goemon Ichikawa's theme). All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Minoru Kuribayashi - Hammond organ - Michio Nagaoka - bass - Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Yuichi Togashiki - drums - Pepe Anai - percussions - Takeru Muraoka - saxophone, clarinet - Eiji Arai - trombone

Yuji Ohno - Original Soundtrack From Lupin III


Year : 1978
Label : Satril/Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco

First of five serie records of the Lupin The 3rd Original Soundtrack released between 1978 to 1981, performed by Yuji Ohno who formed, for the nonce, his new Jazz Funk group called "You & The Explosion Band" supported by a strings ensemble conducted by Minoru Suzuki (The Suzuki Group), and guests singers Sandi A. Hohn & Tommy Snyder from japanese pop band GODIEGO. Titles include the popular opening and ending themes from the first season, "I Miss You Babe, (Yes I Do)" feat. Sandi A. Hohn, "Dangerous Zone" (also extracted from original soundtrack of Lupin VS Mamo 1978 movie), "Lovin' You (Lucky)" feat. Tommy Snyder. Some tracks are introduced by dialogue inserts extracted from the episodes of Lupin III serie, starring the main characters. All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Minoru Kuribayashi - Hammond organ - Takeru Muraoka & Jake H. Conception - saxophone - Shigeharu Mukai - trombone - Akira Okazawa - bass - Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Larry Sunaga - percussions


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