Alice Clark

 
Year : 2019/1972

Label : Wewantsounds/Mainstream Records

Genre : Soul

Style : Funk/Soul

Alice Clark's highly sought-after record finally reissued by french label Wewantsounds, is an absolute must-have for all the soul-jazz diggers and aficionados. Recorded in 1972 at the famous Record Plant studio in New York, this unfamiliar soul-jazz classic of the Mainstream Records label was a commercial failure. Produced by Bob Shad, owner of the label, arranged and conducted by Ernie Wilkins, it features the hottest jazz american session musicians among Cornell Dupree (eg), Bernard Purdie (ds), Joe Newman (tp), Ernie Hayes & Paul Griffin (ep, org).  Titles include three songs written by Bobby Hebb (Charms Of The Arms Of Love, Don't You Care, Hard Hard Promises), Jimmy Webb's "I Keep It Hid", the single "Never Did I Stop Loving You", and Petula Clark's "Looking At Life".

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.

King Curtis - Live At Fillmore West

Year : 1971
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Recording from live performance at Fillmore West by Soul star saxophonist King Curtis featuring Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, Cornell Dupree and organist Billy Preston, session musician of The Beatles. Curtis started in jazz and blues in the early sixties before to become a session musician in demand working for Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. "Live At Filmore West" was last performance of King Curtis before his death in 1971, supported by the famous Atlantic brass band, The Memphis Horns and his backing band, The Kingpins. Curtis revisits the Soul, Pop and Rock standards including "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", "I Stand Accused", "Whole Lotta Love", "Signed Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours". Titles include also his 1967 massive hit "Memphis Soul Stew".

MUSICIANS : King Curtis - saxophone - Jerry Jemmott - bass - Cornell Dupree - guitar - Billy Preston - organ -  Truman Thomas - piano - Bernard Purdie - drums - Pancho Morales - congas

Pretty Purdie - Soul Drums

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

Debut album as a leader of popular jazz session drummer Bernard Purdie featuring guitarist Eric Gale and pianist Richard Tee, also in charge of arrangements. "Soul Drums" is more a R&B record than a jazz album including deep funk grooves and amazing drum breaks (his typical drum patterns called "The Purdie Shuffle" & "Half-Time Purdie"). Titles include only Bernard Purdie's compositions whose the hit single "Funky Donkey", the Bossa Funk "Soul Bossa Nova" and a variation of jazz standard "Caravan" by Duke Ellington not so far from Rock 'N Roll. All tracks arranged & conducted by Richard Tee.

MUSICIANS : Bernard Purdie - drums, vocals - Bob Bushnell - bass - Eric Gale & Billy Butler - guitar - Richard Tee - piano & organ - Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone & flute - Buddy Lucas - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone

Gabor Szabo - Jazz Raga

Year : 1966
Label : Impulse!
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Psychedelic, Jazz Rock

The meeting between R&B, Jazz and psychedelic music by the most famous Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo featuring drummer Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, bassist Jack Gregg, guitarist Bob Bushnell and percussionist Ed Shaugnessy in addition on "Mizrab". "Jazz Raga" is a pioneer album of fusion, mostly in the jazz rock style including Indian and Gypsy music elements that showcase sitar and tablas use. Titles include the two jazz standards "Caravan" by Duke Ellington and "Summertime" by George Gershwin, "Raga Doll" by Gary McFarland, "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones, the jazz rock "Sophisticated Wheels" and the transcendantal tracks "Walking On Nails" (feat. Gabor on vocals), "Krishna", "Search For Nirvana" and "Ravi". All tracks recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder, composed by Szabo except those mentionned. 

Reuben Wilson - Got To Get Your Own

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

Soul Grooves & Jazz Funk by one organist emblem of the Soul Jazz from the 60's. Personnel includes incredible talented players as the JB's saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, drummer Bernard Purdie, Houston Person (saxophone), Joe Newman & Jon Faddis (trumpet), Garnett Brown (trombone), Richard Tee (keyboards), Wilbur Bascomb, Jr. (electric bass). Arranged by Reuben Wilson & Brad Baker.

01. What the People Gon' Say
02. In the Booth, In the Back, In the Corner, In the Dark
03. Back Rub
04. Tight Money
05. Stoned Out Of My Mind
06. Together (You & Me)
07. Got to Get Your Own

Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces Of A Man

Year : 1971
Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz
 
"Pieces Of A Man" is a Soul Jazz album featuring Brian Jackson (p), Ron Carter (eb), Hubert Laws (fl, sax), Burt Jones (eg) and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (ds). Gil Scott-Heron speaks about social and political issues of his time including slam forms and protest speech, in particular on iconic song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", major influence for Hip-Hop music. Indeed, Gil Scott-Heron is considered as the first rapper in the history, musician and poet, he started as writer publishing his first novel "The Vulture" in 1969. Influenced by The Last Poets, his music is marked by political and social engagement. He meets musician Brian Jackson at university, it's the beginning of a long time collaboration on seven albums in duet released between 1974-1980, including "Winter In America" with his massive hit "The Bottle". All tracks composed by Brian Jackson & Gil Scott-Heron, conducted by Johnny Pate.

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Mikio "Mickey" Masuda - Corazón

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Year : 1978
Label : King Records
Serie : Electric Bird
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Smooth Jazz, Jazz Funk

"Corazon" is a Jazz Funk album including Latin music by keyboardist Mikio Masuda featuring top amercican jazz musicians among the bassist Anthony Jackson, drummer Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, percussionist Sammy Figueroa & arranger David Matthews. Released on the japanese fusion jazz label Electric Bird, it was the first Masuda's album recorded outside Japan at the famous Electric Lady studios in New York. Titles include the latin funk "Corazón", Sadao Watanabe's tune "Samba Em Praia", the caribbean vibe "Ride On The Donkey", "Another Rainy Day In New York City"/"Love Talkin" played in the pure Bob James style, and a variation of the Masuda's classic "Let's Get Together" on a disco beat. All tracks arranged & conducted by David Matthews.

Bernard Purdie - Purdie Good !

Year : 1971
Label : Prestige
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Funk/Soul

Soul & Fusion Jazz from Prestige Records by Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, sideman for James Brown, Gato Barbieri, Miles Davis, Gil Scott-Heron and many others from Jazz, Soul Funk (like Aretha Franklin) to Pop Music (like The Rolling Stones). He contributed to James Brown' Cold Sweat (1967) & Say It Loud-I'm Black & I'm Proud (1969), King Curtis' Live at Fillmore West (1971), Miles Davis' Get Up with It (1972), Gato Barbieri' Yesterdays (1974)...

Gordon Edwards_Bass
Norman Pride_Congas
Harold Wheeler_Electric Piano
Billy Nichols & Ted Dunbar_Guitar
Charlie Brown & Warren Daniels_Saxophone
Tippy Larkin_Trumpet

01. Cold Sweat
02. Montego Bay
03. Purdie Good
04. Wasteland
05. Everybody's Talkin'
06. You Turn Me On

Jimmy McGriff - Electric Funk

Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

The grooviest album of one organ master recorded in association with Horace Ott, featuring Stanley Turrentine, Blue Mitchell and studio drummer Bernard Purdie. One of the most Jazz album sampled which include huge grooves Back on The Track and cover pop Spinning Wheel. Tracks 1 to 3, 7 & 9 composed by Horace Ott, 4 to 6 by Jimmy McGriff. Produced by Sonny Lester, all tracks arranged by Horace Ott.

Jimmy McGriff_organ

Horace Ott_electric piano

Bernard Purdie_drums

Blue Mitchell_trumpet

Stanley Turrentine_tenor saxophone

01. Back On The Track
02. Chris Cross
03. Miss Poopie
04. The Bird Wave
05. Spear For Moondog, Part 1
06. Spear For Moondog, Part 2
07. Tight Times
08. Spinning Wheel (D.C. Thomas)
09. Funky Junk

Freddie Hubbard - A Soul Experiment

Year : 1968
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Label : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

His third release for Atlantic label, a turning point in his career. He had discovered Rhythm'n'blues with James Brown, King Curtis or Aretha Franklin. An interlude in Hubbard Free Jazz & Hard Bop period before Red Clay (1970). As a sideman he played in particular with Art Blakey, John Coltrane & Herbie Hancock. Titles alternate Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk & Cool Jazz tracks featuring Grady Tate/Bernard Purdie, Eric Gale, Kenny Barron and Carlos Garnett. Produced by Joel Dorn.

Freddie Hubbard_trumpet

Billy Butler & Eric Gale_guitar

Jerry Jemmott_bass

Bernard Purdie & Grady Tate_drums

Gary Illingworth_organ

Kenny Barron_piano

Carlos Garnett_tenor saxophone

01. Clap Your Hands

02. Wichita Lineman
03. South Street Stroll
04. Lonely Soul
05. No Time to Lose
06. Hang 'Em Up
07. Good Humor Man
08. Midnite Soul
09. Soul Turn Around
10. A Soul Experiment

Gato Barbieri - Yesterdays

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Year : 1974
Label : Flying Duchtman
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Afro Cuban Jazz, Soul Jazz, Modal

The sixth studio album of iconic Argentinean saxophonist Leandro Barbieri, nicknamed "Gato" (the cat), featuring bassist Ron Carter & drummer Bernard Purdie. Mostly influenced by avant-garde saxophonists Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler & Pharoah Sanders, Gato was a precursor of the fusion between Free Jazz and Latin music. Starting professional in the Lalo Schifrin orchestra at the end of the fifties, he played thereafter with Don Cherry, collaborated to the Charlie Haden's "Liberation Music Orchestra" album and evolved in the Carla Bley's "Escalator Over The Hill" line-up. In the seventies, he recorded the free jazz masterpiece "The Third World" featuring Charlie Haden on bass and composed his best known score for the Bernardo Bertolucci's film, "Last Tango In Paris" in 1972. Titles include jazz standard "Yesterdays" composed by Jerome Kern, "A John Coltrane Blues" (a variation of his "Village Blues") and "Cariñoso" by brazilian saxophonist/arranger Pixinguinha.

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

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