Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba

 

Year : 1966

Label : Verve

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova, Pop

Astrud Gilberto surrounded by orchestra conducted by Don Sebesky featuring flutist Hubert Laws & Toots Thielemans (guitar, whistle), rhythm section including bassist Ron Carter, drummer Grady Tate, Marcos Valle (guitar) and Georges Devens (vibraphone). "Beach Samba" was cut for international audience (like the Marcos Valle's "Samba '68"), benefiting of the Eumir Deodato and Don Sebesky's arrangements to the jazz pop orientation. Titles include a songs alternation in portuguese and english lyrics, "The Face I Love" by Marcos Valle, the jazz standard "My Foolish Heart", the banda "Parade" by Chico Buarque, two covers of Luiz Bonfa ("Oba Oba", "Dia Das Rosas") and Deodato contribution's with "Canoeiro" & "Não Bate O Coração". All tracks produced by Creed Taylor. "Beach Samba" is included in the "1001 Discs To Listen Before Die" book.

George Benson - Body Talk

Year : 1973
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz

"Body Talk" is a Soul Jazz album including the heavy Funk expressions of James Brown's groove featuring associated guitarist Earl Klugh, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack DeJohnette & pianist Harold Mabern, all conducted by the leader of the James Brown revue, Pee Wee Ellis. Titles include pure Funk/Soul tracks arranged by Pee Wee Ellis (the opening song "Dance", "Plum" & the title-track), the Soulful song by Donny Hattaway's "When Love Has Grown" and the climax "Top Of The World". All tracks composed by George Benson except the one mentioned produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. 

MUSICIANS : George Benson, Earl Klugh - guitar - Ron Carter,  Gary King  - bass - Jack DeJohnette - drums - Harold Mabern - electric piano - Mobutu - percussion - Frank Foster - tenor saxophone - Dick Griffin, Gerard Chamberlain - trombone - John Gatchell, Jon Faddis, Waymon Reed - trumpet, flugelhorn

George Benson - Beyond The Blue Horizon

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

First album for the CTI label, the Soul Jazz album "Beyond The Blue Horizon" is a high point in the George Benson's career featuring two rising stars of Jazz, the drummer Jack DeJohnette (from John Coltrane Quintet) and Ron Carter (Miles Davis Quintet), supported by Clarence Palmer on Hammond B3 organ, Albert Nicholson & Michael Cameron on percussion. The album showcases incredible guitar skill variations of the George Benson's guitar playing including a funky version of the great Miles Davis' jazz standard "So What?", the Luiz Bonfa's Bossa Nova tune "The Gentle Rain" and Afro-Jazz track "Somewhere To The East". All tracks produced by Creed Taylor and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Walter Wanderley - Rain Forrest

Year : 1966

Label : Verve

Genre : Latin Jazz

Style : Bossa Nova

Walter Wanderley was the most famous brazilian organist and well known for his distinctive staccato play including the Hammond B3 use. "Rain Forest" is the first of three albums serie recorded for Verve recorded at Rudy Van Gelder studio including duet album with Astrud Gilberto "A Certain Smile A Certain Sadness". It includes only instrumental songs, the hits that made famous Bossa Nova in the world from Antonio Carlos Jobim (The Great Love, Song Of The Jet), Marcos Valle (Summer Samba) or Jobim/Vincius De Moraes (The Girl From Ipanema). It features Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Bobby Rosengarden on percussion, Joe Grimm on flute & Urbie Green on trombone.

Johnny Hammond - Breakout

Year : 1971

Label : Kudu/CTI

Genre : Jazz

Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

Another genious Hammond B-3 organ player also known under the name John Robert Smith started his solo career with Imagination in 1959. In he signed on Prestige label in 1961 and later, recorded several albums for Kudu (subsidiary of CTI Records). In the line-up feature some best CTI musicians as Hank Crawford, Grover Washington Jr., Billy Cobham, Eric Gale and the famous brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira. Titles include the super groove version of Carole King' It's Too Late and Never Can Say Goodbye popularized by the Jackson Five. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder and produced by Creed Taylor.

Johnny Hammond_organ & electric piano
Johnny Williams_bass
Eric Gale_guitar
Billy Cobham_drums
Hank Crawford_alto saxophone
Grover Washington Jr._tenor saxophone  
Danny Moore_trumpet
Airto Moreira_percussion

01. It's Too Late
02. Workin' On A Groovy Thing
03. Never Can Say Goodbye
04. Blues Selah
05. Breakout

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 King & Will 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

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