Masaru Imada Trio + 2 - Green Caterpillar

Year : 1975
Label : TBM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Post Bop, Contemporary Jazz

Best known record of pianist Masaru Imada released on the legendary japanese jazz label TBM. "Green Caterpillar" is a jazz masterpiece featuring talented musicians including guitarist Kazumi Watanabe, bassist Isao Fukui (also called Isoo), drummer Tetsujiro Obara (members of Imada's main trio formation) and percussionist Yuji Imamura in addition. The album opens with a top of the groove "A Green Caterpillar", a 11 minute piece played in the jazz funk style including the iconic guitar play of Kazumi Watanabe. The other titles include "A Straight Flash", "Blue Impulse" and the flamenco tune "Spanish Flower" rather played in a modal style. All tracks composed and arranged by Masaru Imada.

Ryo Kawasaki - Juice

Year : 1976
Label : RCA
Genre : Jazz, Fusion
Style : Jazz Funk
  

"Juice" is the first official US release of Ryo Kawasaki, a Jazz Funk gem recorded and mixed in New York in 1976. Brilliantly introduced by "Raisins", including deep grooves and Boogie Funk with electronic sounds & disco breaks, "Juice" is the demonstration of the high mastery level by Ryo Kawasaki on guitar who has perfectly digested the influences from James Brown. Titles include the reminicent of The Headhunters "East Side Boogie", the samba funk "The Breeze And I", the powerful disco-funk pulses to up-tempo "El Toro" and "Andes", all feature the  bassist Stu Woods. It keeps influences on nowadays music as its recycling in the Hip-Hop music, such as the samples extracted from "Raisins" or "Bamboo Child", both used by Kool G Rap and Puff Daddy. Furthermore, "Raisins" was selected for the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack, on the fictional radio station "Fusion FM" in 2008. All tracks composed & arranged by Ryo Kawasaki, except "The Breeze And I" by Al Stillman & Casado Lecuona.

MUSICIANS : Ryo Kawasaki - lead guitar - Stu Woods - bass - Jimmy Young - drums - Tom Coster - keyboards, synthesizer - Muhammad Abdullah - percussion - Hugh McCracken - rhythm guitar - Mike Lipskin - percussion, synthesizer - Sam Morrison - saxophones, flute - Andy Laverne - piano

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Teruo Nakamura And The Rising Sun - Song Of The Birds

Year : 1977
Label : Kitty
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Also known as the U.S. issue "Manhattan Special" with different cover, "Song Of The Birds" is the third solo album by japanese bassist & multi-instrumentalist Teruo Nakamura. Settled in New York since 1964, Teruo has already worked for the greatest like Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Roy Haynes, Grover Washington Jr, Helen Merrill, Steve Grossman and many more. Recorded  in New York, featuring "The Rising Sun Band", formed by Teruo &guitarist/keyboardist Shiro Mori from the previous album "Rising Sun" in 1976, it includes also some prestigious guests such as Herbie Hancock or trumpeter John Mosley from the Roy Ayers Ubiquity. Titles include pure Jazz Funk tracks to the Headhunters' style (Wiggle Worm, Firefly, Mr. Cherry And Mr. T) and Afro-Latin fusion (Rainbow, Sequoia Forest, Mosquito, Sunrise In Africa). The music of Teruo transcends musical borders of jazz, as evidenced several of his songs which have been sampled by US Hip-Hop artists as such The Roots with "The Cat" (1976) for "Ital (The Universal Side)" or P.M. Dawn with "Firefly" for "Filthy Rich (I Don't Wanna Be)".

THE RISING SUN BAND : Teruo Nakamura - bass, harmonica, synthesizer, percussion - Shiro Mori - guitar, synthesizer - Mark Gray - piano, electric piano, synthesizer, organ - Harry Whitaker - piano, electric piano - Carter Jefferson - tenor, soprano saxophone - Keiji Kishida - drums - Nobu Urushiyama - percussion

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Tom Scott & The L.A. Express - Tom Cat

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

The Last of two albums for Tom Scott featuring The L.A. Express before to continue their own career. The quartet back to the original formation of the "Miles Of Aisles" live performance, as backing band of folk-rock songstress Joni Mitchell, Joe Sample and Larry Carlton leaving the band replaced by Larry Nash & Robben Ford. The influence from the two Crusaders is still being felt on "Tom Cat", including the killer funk "Rock Island Rocket", "Love Poem" featuring Joni Mitchell & the spanish fusion "Rondo".

MUSICIANS : Tom Scott - woodwinds, percussion, keys - Robben Ford - electric & accoustic guitar - Max Bennett - bass - Larry Nash - electric Piano, organ, synthesizer  -  John Guerin - drums, percussion 

Tom Scott And The L.A. Express (Self-Titled)

Year : 1974
Label : Ode Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

The L.A. Express is a Los Angeles supergroup originally formed in 1973 as backing band for jazz saxophonist Tom Scott, playing crossover jazz featuring the two Crusaders, Larry Carlton & Joe Sample. The band was recruited by Joni Mitchell for her live performance in 1974 (Miles Of Aisles) and later for the studio album, "Hissing Of Summer Lawns" in 1975. Tom Scott is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, former member of the legendary Blues Brothers band, session musician for Gabor Szabo, Quincy Jones, Billy Cobham, George Harrison, Paul McCartney or The Grateful Dead, and composer of famous TV series themes "Starsky & Hutch" and "The Streets Of San Francisco". Titles include four Scott's compositions "King Cobra", "Easy Life", "Spindrift", "Strut Your Stuff" and variation of "Dahomey Dance" by John Coltrane.

MUSICIANS : Tom Scott - horns, woodwind - Joe Sample - keyboards - Larry Carlton - guitar - Max Bennett - bass - John Guerin - drums & percussion

Masabumi Kikuchi - Poo-Sun

Year : 1970
Label : Philips
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Contemporary Jazz

One of the finest Japanese Jazz Fusion album ever recorded by jazz pianist. Influenced by Mc Coy Tyner, Masabumi Kikuchi started as professional in the late 50's, was sideman for Sadao Watanabe during the sixties, and played alongside Terumasa Hino, Toshiko Akiyoshi, the jazz giants Elvin Jones, Gil Evans, Sonny Rollins or Miles Davis on stage. As the Terumasa Hino's Hi-Nology, "Poo-Sun" adopts the "Electric Miles" approach, the beginnings of electrification in jazz from "Miles In The Sky" (1968). Kikuchi formed a great sextet-combo based Kohsuke Mine, Motohiko Hino & Yoshio Ikeda. Titles include the representative Kikuchi style "Dancing Mist", the tribute to Elvin Jones (E.J.), the iconci jazz ballad "Yellow Carcass In The Blue" and the jazz rock "Puzzle Ring" followed by the short piano piece, "My Companion". All tracks composed and arranged by Masabumi Kikuchi excepted "Puzzle Ring" by Masahiro Kikuchi.

MUSICIANS : Masabumi Kikuchi - piano, electric piano - Hideo Ichikawa - organ, electric piano - Kohsuke Mine - soprano, alto saxophone - Yoshio Ikeda - bass - Motohiko Hino & Hiroshi Murakami - drums  Keiji Kishida - percussion

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The Eleventh House With Larry Coryell - Introducing The Eleventh House

Year : 1974

Label: Vanguard

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Rock, Jazz Funk, Fusion

Debut album introducing the new band of Larry Coryell, the jazz fusion group "The Eleventh House" featuring trumpeter Randy Brecker, pianist Mike Mandel, bassist Danny Trifan & drummer Alphonse Mouzon. During their short-lived career, the group released three others albums before split, "Level One" in 1975 and "Aspects" in 1976, plus live recording "At Montreux" performed in 1974. Titles include the demonstrative guitar solo "Gratitude 'A So Low" performed by Larry Coryell, the heavy rock "Ism-Ejercicio", the funky "Right On Y'all", "The Funky Waltz" composed by Alphonse Mouzon, "Adam Smasher" & "Joy Ride" by Mike Mandel.

Freddie Hubbard ‎- First Light

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

The third CTI album released by genius trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, can be seen as the final part of a jazz trilogy including his two previous albums, "Red Clay" and "Straight Life" recorded in 1970. "First Light" is a jazz masterpiece with beautiful strings arrangements by master Don Sebesky, featuring the greatest players of their times among guitarist George Benson, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack DeJohnette and pianist Richard Wyands. Titles include the title-track (a replay to "Red Clay"), funky variation of the Paul McCartney's classic "Uncle Albert/Admiral Hasley", and the sweet mood of "Moment To Moment", "Yesterday's Dreams" & "Lonely Town".

Kenny Burrell - God Bless The Child

Year : 1971
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Guitar

The beautiful crossover jazz album "God Bless The Child" is an essential of jazz guitar, the only one recorded for CTI by american jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell featuring Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Freddie Hubbard and Ray Barretto. Influenced by the legendary jazz guitarists Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt, Kenny Burrell started in the early fifties alongside Oscar Peterson before to become a session musician in demand, playing for numerous prestigious musicians among Dizzie Gillepsie, Paul Chambers, Milt Jackson, Louis Amstrong or James Brown, and was a regular sideman, in particular, for Jimmy Smith on over twenty albums. All titles are recorded with the support of a strings orchestra under the Don Sebesky direction. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder and produced by Creed Taylor.

MUSICIANS : Kenny Burrell - guitar - Ron Carter - bass - Hugh Lawson - piano - Richard Wyands - electric piano - Freddie Hubbard - trumpet - Billy Cobham - drums - Ray Barretto - percussion

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. 

Kimiko Kasai - This Is My Love

Year : 1975
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Smooth Jazz, Jazz Funk

Kimiko Kasai meets american top musicians featuring the great Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Cornell Dupree, Bob Crankshaw & Joe Beck. Recorded at the famous Electric Ladyland studios in New York, "This is My Love" is among best productions of Kimiko Kasai including Jazz Funk & Smooth Jazz with killer song from Bill Withers "Use Me" based on the Esther Phillips version, nice sophisticated variation on the iconic pop hit "Happy Together" by The Turtles and the jazz standard "Love For Sale" by Cole Porter. Produced by Teo Macero.

MUSICIANS : Kimiko Kasai - vocals - Bob Crankshaw - bass - Allan Schwartzberg & Billy Lavangna - drums - Cornell Dupree, Jerry Friedman & Joe Beck - guitar - Bobby Scott - keyboards, vocals  - Lee Konitz - alto saxophone - Al John & Stan Getz - tenor saxophone  

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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

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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Billy Cobham - A Funky Thide Of Sings

Year : 1975
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Jazz Rock

The drummer Billy Cobam recorded eight LPs for Atlantic between 1973 to 1977. Here, one of essential album representative of his Jazz Funk Fusion work featuring John Scofield and the Breckers Brothers who collaborated with Billy since the Dreams LP (1969). Most of the tracks demonstrate a high speed drumming technic with powerful solo of Cobham and huge level of Funk attitude. Titles include future Jazz Funk standard Some Skunk Funk by Randy Brecker, Sorcery by Keith Jarrett, Thinking Of You by Alex Blake and four composed by Billy Cobham as the exciting title track.

Billy Cobham_drums
Alex Blake_bass
John Scofield_guitar
Milcho Leviev_keyboards
Michael Brecker_saxophone
Randy Brecker_trumpet
Glenn Ferris_trombone

01. Panhandler
02. Sorcery
03. A Funky Thide Of Sings
04. Thinking Of You
05. Some Skunk Funk
06. Light At The End Of The Tunnel
07. A Funky Kind Of Thing
08. Moody Modes

Deodato - Prelude

Year : 1973
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Jazz Rock, Smooth Jazz

Originally recorded in 1972, "Prelude" is the first of three jazz rock albums (including a recording live) released on CTI by brazilian keyboardist Eumir Deodato. The album is best known for the iconic track "Also Sprach Zarathustra", an arrangement of the theme from "2001: A Space Odyssey", it-self first part of Richard Strauss' tone poem (Also Sprach Zarathustra op.30). "Prelude" is the most successful recording for Deodato and CTI Records, a great source of inspiration for many future jazz fusion musicians in particular in the latin funk style. It features best of the best CTI session musicians such as Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Airto Moreira, Ray Barretto, John Tropea and Hubert Laws. Titles also include "Baubles, Bangles And Beats" exctract from the B'Way Show Kismet, "Prelude To Afternoon Of A Faun" by orchestral music french composer Claude Debussy and "September 13" by Cobham & Deodato.

Jun Fukamachi - Spiral Steps

Year : 1976
Label : Kitty
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion, Space Age
   

"Spiral Steps" is a Space-Age Funk & Future Jazz album featuring the Breckers Brothers and the KORG synthesizer in showcase. Recorded for the first time outside Japan, it's divided in two recordings sessions, Tokyo & New York, including japanesese musicians among his regular sidemen Ray Ohara & Ponta Murakami, Akira Okazawa, Kazumi Watanabe, Anthony Jackson, Barry Rogers, Lou Marini from Blood, Sweat And Tears plus Jake H Conception as guest. Titles include the disco-boogie "In The Holiday Groove" feat. Jake H. Conception & "Taft 1082", the insane heavy funk "Spiral Steps" and the highlight suite for synthesizer "Scoto Phonobine Type I to III". All tracks composed & arranged by Jun Fukamachi.

MUSICIANS : Jun Fukamachi - keyboards - Shuici Ponta Murakami - drums - Akira Okazawa, Ray Ohara & Anthony Jackson - bass - Masayoshi Takanaka, Kazumi Watanabe - guitar - Randy Brecker - trumpet - Barry Rogers - trombone - Jake H.Conception, Michael Brecker & Lou Marini - tenor saxophone 

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George Benson - Bad Benson

Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Bad Benson is a collection of different kind music choices as smooth and straight ahead jazz designed by George Benson, associated to Phil Upchurch collaboration and featuring rhythm section featuring Ron Carter, Steve Gadd and Kenny Barron surrounded by brass band plus strings ensemble. Titles include the funky variation of the jazz standard Take Five by Paul Desmond, two compositions of Phil Upchurch (No Sooner Said Than Done & Full Compass) and two of George (My Latin Brother & The Changing World) all arranged and conducted by Don Sebesky. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder, produced by Creed Taylor for CTI.

George Benson_guitar

Phil Upchurch_guitar, electric bass, percussion

Ron Carter_bass

Kenny Barron_piano

Steve Gadd_drums

01. Take Five
02. Summer Wisher, Winter Dreams (J.Mandel/A. & M. Bergman)
03. My Latin Brother
04. No Sooner Said Than Done
05. Full Compass
06. The Changing World

Larry Coryell - Spaces

Year : 1970
Label : Vanguard
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

One of the greatest fusion album ever recorded featuring jazz rock pioneers guitarists Larry Coryell & John McLaughlin, supported by Miroslav Vitous on bass, Chick Corea on electric piano and Billy Cobham on drums, main actors of the early fusion period. Considered among the best guitarists, 'the godfather of fusion', Larry Coryell recorded "Spaces" in 1969, concept album focuses on the two guitarists based on nuanced, rhythmic guitar playing including amazing improvisations (Spaces (Infinite), Chris) and gypsy jazz in the Django Reinhardt style ("Rene's Theme" composed by Belgian jazz-guitarist, René Thomas & "Wrong Is Right"). 

Wes Montgomery - Tequila

Year : 1966
Label : Verve
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Smooth Jazz

One of most popular Wes Montgomery' album with Straight Ahead jazz associated to some latin beats, the beautiful guitar arrangements of Wes with a great combo featuring Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Grady Tate all surrounded by strings. Titles include the famous Tequila, pop cover of Bacharach, What The World Needs Now Is Love, the classic from Bossa Nova How Insensitive by Jobim and two own compositions by Wes (Bumpin' On Sunset & The Thumb). All tracks produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder and arranged by Claus Ogerman.
  

Wes Montgomery_guitar

Ron Carter_bass

Ray Barretto_congas

Grady Tate_drums

George Devens_vibes
   
01. Tequila

02. Little Child (Daddy Dear)
03. What The World Needs Now Is Love
04. The Big Hurt
05. Bumpin' On Sunset
06. How Insensitive (Aka Insensatez)
07. The Thumb
08. Midnight Mood

Akira Ishikawa & His Group - Drum Yagibushi Drum

Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic, Minyo

Volume 4 of five discs from the "DRUM DRUM DRUM" serie devoted to the iconic instrument, released on the japanese label "Crown Records", and recorded by Akira Ishikawa & His Group. Akira revisits the popular folk songs of Japanese culture from the best-known genres "Bushi" or the "Ondo". These two traditional japanese folk music genres are associated to various dances forms, by the using a set of traditional japanese drums and percussions such as the taiko. The group plays a clever fusion mixing world music, jazz & psychedelic rock including heavy drum solos with modern and traditional instruments.