Eugene Mc Daniels - Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse

Year : 1971

Label : Atlantic

Genre : Jazz, Soul

Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Soul

One of the most sampled album of all the time, recorded by Eugene Mc Daniels, a jazz/soul singer actives since the sixties who released his first smash hit single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" in 1961. Directed and arranged by Harry Whitaker featuring Miroslav Vitous & Alphonse Mouzon from Weather Report, "Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse" is a soul/jazz album including elements of american counterculture with conscious lyrics, folk rock and psychedelic music. The whole album was a tremendous basis material for Hip-Hop samples during the nineties such as "Headless Heroes" (sampled by Beastie Boys on "Get It Together", Pete Rock & CL Smooth on "Soul Brother #1", Eric B. & Rakim on "Pass The Hand Grenade"), "Jagger The Dagger" (A Tribe Called Quest on "Bonita Applebum", "After Hours") or "Freedom Death Dance" (Pete Rock & CL Smooth on "Act Like You Know"). "Headless Heroes" was selected for the Atlantic Records compilation "Right On! (Break beats and grooves from the Atlantic and Warner vaults 1967-1975)" released in 1999.

MUSICIANS : Eugene McDaniels - lead vocal  - Carla Cargill - chorus, vocal - Harry Whitaker - electric piano - Gary King - electric bass - Miroslav Vitous - acoustic bass - Alphonse Mouzon - drums - Richie Resnikoff - guitar

Herbie Mann - Memphis Underground

Year : 1969

Label : Atlantic

Genre : Jazz

Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Rock

The Jazz Rock gem, Memphis Underground, recorded by flutist Herbie Mann in the late sixties for Atlantic Records, is one of the best-selling Jazz album of all time. After several Bossa Nova albums such as the brilliant Do The Bossa Nova released in 1962 and featuring some finest brazilian musicians, Herbie pays tribute to the Rhythm&Blues music from the south of US. He's evolves with the famous Memphis Rhythm Section supported by the energetic vibes of Roy Ayers & electric echos of Larry Coryell plus the presence of guest bassist Miroslav Vitous. Titles include his own composition Memphis Underground (a tribute to the city), New Orleans, the Soul covers from Stax, Hold On, I'm Comin by Sam & Dave (written by Isaac Hayes) & the classic Aretha Franklin's Chain of Fools, the traditional Battle Hymn Of The Republic arranged by Herbie.

Herbie Mann_flute
Roy Ayers_vibes & congas
Mike Leech & Tommy Cogbill_bass
Larry Coryell, Reggie Young & Sonny Sharrock_guitar
Bobby Emmons_organ
Bobby Wood_keyboards
Gene Christman_drums

01. Memphis Underground

02. New Orleans
03. Hold On, I'm Comin'
04. Chain Of Fools
05. Battle Hymn Of The Republic

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"). 

Sadao Watanabe - Round Trip

Year : 1970
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz

The saxophonist Sadao Watanabe is the most famous jazz musician outside Japan, always active nowadays, he's best known as the man who introduced Bossa Nova in Japan. During his fruitful career, he recorded a numerous of masterpieces whose "Round Trip", introduced here, featuring jazz giants Chick Corea (p,el-p), Miroslav Vitous (b) and Jack DeJohnette (ds). In 1962, Sadao moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and later played alongside Charlie Mariano (including three duet albums in the late sixties), Chico Hamilton, Gary McFarland, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin or Hank Jones. Always in the forefront, he explored worldwide musical cultures, reflecting his Brazilian, African & Indian expressions on several albums, and will become the japanese representative of Bossa Nova & World Music like Joe Zawinul. Titles include "Round Trip : Going & Coming" with free improvisations, the short track "Nostargia", the modal "Pastoral" and the Jazz Samba "Sao Paulo". All tracks composed, arranged by Sadao & produced by Kiyoshi Itoh.

LISTEN SAMPLE