Lou Donaldson - Say It Loud !

Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

More pop language for Lou Donaldson, using the varitone process, an amplification system for saxophone. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Charles Earland, Blue Mitchell, Jimmy Ponder, and his sideman, Idris Muhammad, play under the Blues/Boogie mode, making of "Say It Loud!" one of his funkiest album. The first side is devoted to covers songs including the opening track, the iconic protest song of James Brown and two great jazz standards, "Summertime" revisited in a latin variation and "Caravan", while the other side consists on two originals (Snake Bone, Brother Soul) composed by Lou Donaldson.

MUSICIANS : Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone - Blue Mitchell - trumpet - Charles Earland - organ - Jimmy Ponder - guitar - Idris Muhammad - drums

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo

Year : 1967
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

The essential Soul Jazz masterpiece among the most sampled album of the time, performed by the Soul Jazz saxophonist No. 1 featuring a funky combo with drummer Leo Morris (Idris Muhammad), guitarist George Benson, organist Lonnie Smith & cornestist Melvin Lastie Sr. in addition on "I Want A Little Girl". "Alligator Bogaloo" opens the R&B era of Lou Donalson to the Funk/Soul accent including the climax album "Midnight Creeper" with the same rhythm section. Titles include "One Cylinder" sampled by french rapper MC Solaar on "Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo" (1991) & "Superstarr" (1994), original composition by Lonnie Smith (Aw Shucks!), "The Thang", "Rev. Moses" & the title-track composed by Lou Donaldson. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

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

Grant Green - Alive!

Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

Amazing live performance recorded at the Cliche Lounge in New Jersey by the emblematic jazz fusion guitarist. Grant Green continues his "funky" route, strongly influenced by James Brown, started from his previous album "Green Is Beautiful", with the same formation, namely, Idris Muhammad, Claude Bartee & Earl Neal Creque plus organist Ronnie Foster. Titles include crossover Jazz & powerful Soul grooves, the Funk classics "Let The Music Take Your Mind" & "Sookie, Sookie" (cover songs of Kool & the Gang and Don Covay), and the Lalo Schifrin's Down Here On The Ground sampled by ATCQ (Vibes And Stuff). 

Grant Green_guitar

Claude Bartee_saxophone

Earl Neal Creque & Ronnie Foster_organ

Idris Muhammad_drums

Joseph Armstrong_congas 

William Bivens_vibes

01. Let The Music Take Your Mind
02. Time To Remember
03. Sookie, Sookie
04. Down Here On The Ground

Lou Donaldson - Midnight Creeper

Year : 1968
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

In the continuity of Mr. Shing-A-Ling and the famous Alligator Boogaloo, Midnight Creeper embraced again the Funk style. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, George Benson and Idris Muhammad where Lonnie adds his contribution (he co-written the title track with Lou) and George show us his great guitar skill in a mix up of Hard Bop improvisations & Soul Jazz served by funky arrangements. Titles include all compositions of Lou Donaldson except Love Power by Teddy Van, Bag of Jewels by Lonnie Liston Smith (the other jazz organist) & Dapper Dan by Harold Ousley. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Lou Donaldson_altosaxophone
Blue Mitchell_cornet & trumpet
Lonnie Smith_organ
George Benson_guitar
Idris Muhammad_drums

01. Midnight Creeper
02. Love Power
03. Elizabeth
04. Bag of Jewels
05. Dapper Dan

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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Idris Muhammad - Power of Soul

Year : 1974
Label : CTI/Kudu
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Jazz Funk

The first recording for CTI by Idris Muhammad and probably among his best fusion album. An essential of Fusion Jazz with powerfull rock beats, soul grooves & funky arrangements featuring Bob James, Grover Washington Jr., Gary King, Joe beck, Ralph MacDonald and Randy Brecker. Titles include the Jimmy Hendrix' Power of Soul, Piece Of Mind by Bob James, The Saddest Thing by Joe Beck and Loran's Dance by Grover Washington Jr.. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. All tracks arranged and conducted by Bob James.
  

Idris Muhammad_drums

Bob James_keyboards

Grover Washington Jr._tenor & soprano saxophones

Gary King_bass 

Joe beck_guitar

Ralph MacDonald_percussion

Randy Brecker_trumpet & flugelhorn.

01. Power Of Soul
02. Piece Of Mind
03. The Saddest Thing
04. Loran's Dance

Idris Muhammad - Black Rhythm Revolution !

Year : 1970
Label : BGP/Prestige
Genre : Jazz
Style : Funk/Soul

First solo album  signed on Prestige label and recorded at Rudy Van Gelder studio by Idris Muhammad to Soul Jazz style and high 'Funk' accent. He is surrounded by the same lineup as on his following album, Peace & Rhythm to the exception of Ron Carter & Alan Fontaine' absence. Titles include memorable grooves & powerful drum breaks, Soul covers of James Brown, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Jack McDuff and two originals compositions by Idris Muhammad. All tracks arranged by Clarence Thomas.

Idris Muhammad_drums
Jimmy Lewis_bass
Buddy Caldwell_congas
Harold Mabern_electric piano
Melvin Sparks_guitar
Clarence Thomas_tenor & soprano saxophones
Virgil Jones_trumpet

01. Express Yourself (Charles Wright)

02. Soulful Drums (Jack McDuff)
03. Super Bad (James Brown)
04. Wander
05. By the Red Sea

Idris Muhammad - Peace And Rhythm

Year : 1971

Label : Prestige

Genre : Jazz

Style : Funk/Soul

Second studio album by the american jazz drummer, Idris Muhammad featuring Ron Carter, Kenny Baron, Melvin Sparks, Clarence Thomas & Virgil Jones. Idris Muhammad started as Leo Morris (his name before his conversion to Islam) with Fats Domino in 1956, later in the sixties, was session musician for various Blue Note recordings and for CTI in the seventies. Idris is best known as sideman for saxophonist Lou Donaldson from 1965 to 1971, collaborating to several of his albums such as the famous Alligator Bogaloo released in 1967. He played with a considerable number of Jazz legends, inter alia, Pharoah Sanders, Reuben Wilson, Lonnie Smith and more recently Ahmad Jamal. Titles include the Peace & Rhythm Suite, Brother You Know You're Doing Wrong written by his wife, Sakinah, and the funky hit song by Wilson Pickett, Don't Knock My Love. All tracks arranged by Clarence Thomas.

Idris Muhammad_drums, cabasa, gong
Ron Carter & Jimmy Lewis_bass
Melvin Sparks & Alan Fontaine_guitar
Kenny Baron_electric piano
Angel Allende_percussion, timbales
Buddy Caldwell_congas
Clarence Thomas_saxophones, flute, bells
Virgil Jones_trumpet
Willie Bivins_vibes

01. Peace & Rhythm Suite : Peace
02. Peace & Rhythm Suite : Rhythm
03. Brother You Know You're Doing Wrong
04. Don't Knock My Love
05. I'm A Believer

Melvin Sparks - Sparks !

Year : 1970
Label : Prestige
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Debut album of studio jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks. He started to play in the backing band of Little Willie John, Little Richard and Sam Cooke between 1963 to 1967, on Brother Jack McDuff' Double Barrelled Soul in 1968, Reuben Wilson' Blue Mode & Lou Donaldson' Everything I Play Is Funky in 1969. He recorded Sparks ! with a great combo featuring Virgil Jones, John Manning, Leon Spencer Jr., Idris Muhammad and special guest saxophonist Houston Person on The Stinker. Titles include Thank You & Spill The Wine by Sly & Family Stone & Eric Burdon with War respectively, a great composition of Spencer, The Stinker. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Melvin Sparks_guitar

Leon Spencer Jr._organ

Idris Muhammad_drums

Virgil Jones_trumpet

John Manning_tenor saxophone

 01. Thank You

02. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
03. Charlie Brown
04. The Stinker
05. Spill The Wine

George Benson - The Other Side Of Abbey Road

Year : 1969

Label : A&M

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

George Benson revisits some iconic songs from The Beatles' last album, arranged & directed by master Don Sebesky, produced by Creed Taylor for CTI and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. George Benson (eg, vo) is surrounded by a golden sextet including regular CTI session musicians featuring Herbie Hancock (org, p), Bob James (el-p), Idris Muhammad (ds), Freddie Hubbard (tp), Hubert Laws (fl), Ron Carter (b, el-b) & Ray Barretto (perc), supported by strings orchestra. Titles include four medley (Golden Slumbers~You Never Give Me Your Money, Because~Come Together, Here Comes The Sun~I Want You (She's So Heavy), Something~Octopus's Garden~The End) and "Oh! Darling".

Reuben Wilson - Love Bug

Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

The second album for Blue Note by Reuben Wilson featuring Lee Morgan, George Coleman Grant Green & Idris Muhammad. Titles include covers pop (I'm Gonna Make You Love Me,  I Say a Little Prayer) & jazz standard (Stormy) played in Soul Jazz style and four Wilson' Originals. Produced by Francis Wolf and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Reuben Wilson_organ
Grant Green_guitar
Idris Muhammad_drums
Lee Morgan_trumpet
George Coleman _tenor saxophone

01. Hot Rod
02. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
03. I Say a Little Prayer
04. Love Bug
05. Stormy
06. Back Out

Grant Green - Visions

Year : 1971

Label : Blue Note

Genre : Jazz

Syle : Fusion

Great crossover jazz album from Grant Green Sextet featuring, as always, his sideman Idris Muhammad, Emanuel Riggins, Chuck Rainey, Billy Wooten, Ray Armando plus additional musician, Harold Cardwell, who plays drums & percussions on Blues for Abraham. Titles include Mozart Symphony #40 in G Minor, K550, Hancock's standard "Cantaloupe Woman", pop & soul covers We've Only Just Begun & Never Can Say Goodbye. 

Grant Green_guitar
Idris Muhammad_drums
Emmanuel Riggins_electric piano
Chuck Rainey_bass
Billy Wooten_vibes
Ray Armando_congas

01. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
02. Maybe Tomorrow
03. Mozart Symphony #40 in G Minor, K550, 1st Movement
04. Love On A Two-Way Street
05. Cantaloupe Woman
06. We've Only Just Begun
07. Never Can Say Goodbye
08. Blues for Abraham

Stanley Turrentine - Common Touch

Year : 1968
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Stanley  Turrentine meets one of best Soul Jazz organist, Shirley Scott in a mix of swinging rhythms, danceable beats, Blues & Straight ahead Jazz. Common Touch is the particular Jazz Funk sound that was becoming popular with other Blue Aote artists such as Lou Donaldson, Reuben Wilson or also John Patton.Titles include Bob Dylan cover song' Blowin' in The Wind, the groovy Buster Brown and Boogaloo by Shirley Scott.

Stanley Turrentine_tenor saxophone
Shirley Scott_organ
Jimmy Ponder_guitar
Bob Cranshaw_electric bass
Idris Muhammad_drums

01. Buster Brown
02. Blowin' In The Wind
03. Lonely Avenue
04. Boogaloo
05. Common Touch
06. Living Through It All

Lou Donaldson - Everything I Play Is Funky

Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Rare groove and the most funkiest LP from Lou Donaldson and his brilliant quintet  featuring Idris Muhammad &  Lonnie Smith (such as on Midnight Creeper) plus Blue Mitchell, Melvin Sparks and guests Ed Williams & Charles Earland who replaces Blue Mitchell & Lonnie Smith on Donkey Walk & West Indian Daddy. Titles include his best funk track Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On) written by Allen Toussaint, Over The Rainbow from movie The Wizard Of Oz by Judy Garland and four original compositions by Lou Donaldson.

Lou Donaldson_alto & baritone saxophone, vocal

Lonnie Smith_organ

Jimmie Lewis_bass

Melvin Sparks_guitar

Idris Muhammad_drums

Blue Mitchell_trumpet

01. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)
02. Hamp's Hump
03. Over The Rainbow
04. Donkey Walk
05. West Indian Daddy
06. Minor Bash

Grant Green - Green Is Beautiful

Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

The ultimate Grant Green's rare groove record to the James Brown touch, from Soul Jazz to Jazz Funk, in collaboration with Earl Neal Creque, one of his best release for Blue Note featuring Idris Muhammad, Blue Mitchell and Candido Camero. Titles include the DJs' choice "Ain’t It Funky Now" (JB), vision by Green of two famous pop covers from The Beatles (A Day In The Life) and Bacharach (I’ll Never Fall in Love Again) and the contributions of Earl Neal Creque (Windjammer &  Dracula). Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder and arranged by Earl Neal Creque.

Grant Green_guitar
Idris Muhammad_drums
Candido Camero_conga
Blue Mitchell_trumpet
Richard Lendrum_Bongo
Emmanuel Riggins & Earl Neal Creque_organ
Claude Bartee_tenor sax
Jimmy Lewis_fender bass

01. Ain’t It Funky Now
02. A Day in the Life
03. Windjammer
04. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again
05. Dracula

Bob James - One

Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

First of a four serie albums recorded for CTI  between 1974-1977, by american jazz pianist and arranger Bob James, proclaimed as the "Godfather" of the Smooth Jazz. Bob James plays with a large ensemble of musicians featuring Gary King, Idris Muhammad & Grover Washington Jr., all supported by a strings section. After a period as sideman for Sarah Vaughan from 1965 to 1968, he become one of favorites studio musicians for the Creed Taylor's new label, CTI. During the decade 1970, he played a major role in turning Jazz into Jazz Funk as producer and arranger. With "One", Bob James revisits great works of classical music, the Mussorgsky's "Night On Bald Mountain" & "In The Garden" based on "Canon In D" by Pachelbel. Others titles include original compositions by Bob James, "Valley Of The Shadow", "Soulero" featuring guest saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and "Nautilus" (sampled by Run-D.M.C. on "Beats to the Rhyme" & Ghostface Killah on "Daytona 500"). Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder studio, arranged & conducted by Bob James.

Bob James_keyboards

Gary King_bass

Richie Resnicoff_guitar

Idris Muhammad & Steve Gadd_drums

Ralph McDonald_percussion
Grover Whashington Jr._soprano saxophone

01. Valley Of The Shadows                        

02. In The Garden

03. Soulero

04. Night On Bald Mountain

05. Feel Like Making Love

06. Nautilus

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