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

Junior Mance - With A Lotta Help From My Friends

Year : 1970

Label : Atlantic

Genre : Jazz

Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

Awesome Jazz funk album with catchy breakbeats, funky accoustic piano & raging drumming recorded by pianist Junior Mance featuring an insane combo including drummer Billy Cobham from Mahavishnu Orchestra, guitarist Eric Gale and bassist Chuck Rainey. Junior Mance was a session musician in demand, playing for numerous jazz formations among Lester Young Sextet, Cannonball Adderley Quintet or Dizzy Gillespie Quintet and sideman for Gene Amons, Dinah Washington or Johnny Griffin. Titles includes nice covers of Sly & The family Stone (Thank You Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Agin), Blood, Sweat And Tears (Spinning Wheel) and in particular the killer tune "Don't Cha Hear Me Callin' To Ya" selected on "Right On! - Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic & Warner Vaults" released in 1999.

Mongo Santamaria - Mongo' 70

Year : 1970

Label : Atlantic

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk, Afro-Cuban Jazz

Mongo Santamaria was a popular session latin jazz percussionist who played in the fifties with the greatest Tito Puente or Cal Tjader among others. "Mongo' 70" is a crossover jazz album including latin grooves and pop/funk beats recorded with collaboration of pianist/arranger Earl Neal Creque from Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers. Titles include the killer funk "March Of The Panther" composed by Sonny Henry, "Dedicated To Love" by John Hart,  the Afro-Cuban "Abolo Criollo", the killer pop "Yesterday's Tomorrow" & "Mo' Do" featuring guitarist Eric Gale, and six original compositions by E. N. Creque (whose "Windjammer", a variation of "The Windjammer" originally composed for Grant Green). Mongo is supported by a trio of percussionists formed by Julio Colazzo, Osvaldo Martinez & Pelayo Diaz.

Gabor Szabo - Macho

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

A Jazz Funk & Smooth Jazz album first issue on Salvation label by the most famous Hungarian jazz guitarist. Bob James contributes largely to the achievement of this album as arranger, producer and pianist. Gabor Szabo' group featuring Eric Gale, Harvey Mason, Idris Muhammad, Louis Johnson, Tom Scott, John Faddis. Titles include the huge groovy version of Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Franz Liszt), boogaloo style as The Meters, Ziggidy Zag by Harvey Mason, Macho & Time by Gabor. All tracks arranged by Bob James, Gabor Szabo & Harvey Mason.

  

Gabor Szabo & Eric Gale_guitar

Bob James_keyboards

Louis Johnson_bass

Harvey Mason_drums

Tom Scott_lyricon, saxophone

Idris Muhammad, Ralph MacDonald_percussion

George Bohannon_trombone

John Faddis_trumpet

01. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
02. Time
03. Transylvania Boogie
04. Ziggidy Zag
05. Macho
06. Poetry Man

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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

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

Bob James - BJ 4

Year : 1977

Label : CTI

Genre : Jazz

Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The final chapter of the Bob James tetralogy and last volume of the four discs serie produced for CTI from 1974 to 1977. As the previous albums, the rhythm section is based on Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Gary King & Ralph MacDonald, including soloists Hubert Laws and Art Farmer, all supported by strings ensemble. Titles include original compositions by Bob James from Jazz Funk (Where The Wind Blows Free, Tappan Zee) to Smooth Jazz (Pure Imagination, Nights Are Forever Without You) with caribbean overtones (Treasure Island). All tracks arrranged by Bob James, produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King_bass
Steve Gadd_drums
Eric Gale_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Romeo Penque & Eddie Daniels_tenor saxophone & bass clarinet

01. Pure Imagination

02. Where The Wind Blows Free
03. Tappan Zee
04. Nights Are Forever Without You
05. Treasure Island
06. El Verano

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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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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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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

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