Toshiko Akiyoshi Quintet - Toshiko At Top Of The Gate

Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal, Bossa Nova

Recording live by the best known japanese jazz pianist, Toshiko Akiyoshi (spotted by Oscar Peterson in 1952), performed during a concert at the Top Of the Gate, a famous jazz club of the Village Gate Theater located in Greenwich Village, New York City. Toshiko Akiyoshi Quintet is based on first class musicians, among the best renowned such as Kenny Dorham or Ron Carter from Second Great Miles Davis Quintet (1964-1968), all playing in the Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers way, including Hard Bop arrangements and samba rhythms (How Insensitive, Morning Of The Carnival). The first side contains only Toshiko's songs, while the second is devoted to jazz standards & covers plus original, "Elegy". "Toshiko At Top Of The Gate" features among the Sleep Walker's influences, "Phrygian Waterfall" was included in their Jazz compilation "Shibuya Jazz Classics" supervised for Nippon Columbia.

MUSICIANS : Toshiko Akiyoshi - piano - Ron Carter - bass - Kenny Dorham - trumpet - Lew Tabackin - saxophone - Mickey Rocker - drums

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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.

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".

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.

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

Takehiro Honda - Reaching For Heaven

Year : 1978
Label : Flying Disk
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contemporary Jazz, Fusion

"Reaching For Heaven" is the second of three albums serie released on the japanese label Flying Disk, including "Another Departure" in 1977 and "It's Great Outside" in 1978. Takehiro Honda Trio is formed with the same legendary duo featuring bassist Ron Carter & drummer Tony Williams from the Second Great Quintet of Miles Davis. Recorded during the "Another Departure" sessions at Vanguard Studio in 1977, New-York, the album includes various Jazz sandards & covers from Oliver Nelson (Ostinato), Horace Silver (Peace), Bobby Hutcherson (Little B's Poem), Victor Young (Beautiful Love) and the original composition by Honda (Lazy Dream). Produced by Kiyoshi Itoh and Yukio Morisaki.

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Takehiro Honda - Another Departure

Year : 1977

Label : Flying Disk

Genre : Jazz

Style : Contemporary Jazz, Fusion

   
"Another Departure" is first part of recording sessions at Vanguard Studio from 2, 3 May 1977, New York by pianist Takehiro Honda featuring jazz legends, Ron Carter & Tony Williams, former members of the Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet from 1965 to 1968. Honda was one of the most renowned japanese jazz pianist, influenced by McCoy Tyner, he started in 1966 as member of japanese rock band "The Mojo" during the 'Group Sounds' era. Thereafter, he formed his first own jazz trio in 1968 with drummer Hiroshi Murakami, bassist Eijiro Hagiwara and played in various prestigious japanese jazz formations such as the Nobuo Hara's Sharps & Flats Big Band. In 1969, he recorded his debut album "Takehiro Honda Meets Rhythm Section" featuring the Sadao Watanabe Quartet opening a fruitful period of masterpieces production. From 1973 to 1978, he was sideman for Sadao Watanabe taking part to his studio recordings ("Kenya Africa", "Recital"...) and live tours (Montreux Jazz Festival in 1975), before to form his famous successful Jazz Funk band "Native Son" with saxophonist Kohsuke Mine & Hiroshi Murakami. Titles include contemporary Jazz (Longing, Puddle), Soul Jazz (Wonder), Carribean fusion (Calypso Street) and Jazz Funk (Spirits Flow). All tracks composed by Takehiro Honda, produced by Kiyoshi Itoh & Yukio Morisaki.

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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

Ron Carter - Blues Farm

Year : 1973
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion
Website : Roncater.net

The first of five series albums recorded for CTI between 1973 and 1976 featuring some of the best New York studio musicians : the Carter's deep groove is reinforced by the presence Billy Cobham, Bob James, Richard Tee, Hubert Laws, Ralph MacDonald.  of a line-up formed around . Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, arranged and conducted by Ron Carter. All compositions by Ron carter except Django (John Lewis).

Ron Carter_piccolo bass
Billy Cobham_drums
Hubert Laws_flute
Richard Tee & Bob James_electric piano
Ralph McDonald_percussions
Sam Brown & Gene Bertoncini_electric guitar

01. Blues Farm
02. A Small Ballad
03. Django
05. A Hymn For Him
06. Two-Beat Johnson
07. R2, M1

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.

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

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

Antonio Carlos Jobim - Stone Flower

Year : 1970

Label : CTI
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

Considered as the forerunner of the Bossa Nova genre, Antonio Carlos Jobim was best known for having shaped Brazilian modern music and his contribution to famous Stan Getz's albums "Jazz Samba" and "Getz/Gilberto". Arranged by Eumir Deodato and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder, "Stone Flower" is a highlight point of his career, a kind of own version of the Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" album. It's his only album recorded for the Creed Taylor label including the best of the best among CTI musicians : Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Hubert Laws, Deodato and Airto Moreira. Titles include the Brazilian music anthem "Brazil" ("Aquarela Do Brazil" composed by Ary Barroso) and original compositions by Jobim.

Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces Of A Man

Year : 1971
Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz
 
"Pieces Of A Man" is a Soul Jazz album featuring Brian Jackson (p), Ron Carter (eb), Hubert Laws (fl, sax), Burt Jones (eg) and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (ds). Gil Scott-Heron speaks about social and political issues of his time including slam forms and protest speech, in particular on iconic song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", major influence for Hip-Hop music. Indeed, Gil Scott-Heron is considered as the first rapper in the history, musician and poet, he started as writer publishing his first novel "The Vulture" in 1969. Influenced by The Last Poets, his music is marked by political and social engagement. He meets musician Brian Jackson at university, it's the beginning of a long time collaboration on seven albums in duet released between 1974-1980, including "Winter In America" with his massive hit "The Bottle". All tracks composed by Brian Jackson & Gil Scott-Heron, conducted by Johnny Pate.

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George Benson - White Rabbit

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

A 'Gypsy' project with heavy orchestration conducted & arranged by Don Sebesky as on The Other Side Of Abbey Road. Titles include some Andalusian tunes (White Rabbit, El Mar) coupled with Straight Ahead Jazz, the trademark of CTI records. Great reprises of the standards pop' White Rabbit & California Dreaming. Earl Klugh & Jay Berliner are associated to george on accoustic guitar. The rest of the band including the finest Fusion Jazz players such as Ron Carter (bass), Herbie Hancock (electric piano), Billy Cobham (drums), Airto Moreira (percussions, vocals), Hubert Laws (flute).

01. White Rabbit
02. Theme from Summer of '42
03. Little Train (from Bachianas Brasileiras No.2)
04. California Dreaming
05. El Mar

Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay

Year : 1970
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Hard Bop, Post Bop, Soul Jazz

Essential album in the Freddie Hubbard discography, the first release for CTI records. "Red Clay" is an Hard Bop album including Funk/Soul expressions performed in quintet featuring outstanding musicians, Joe Henderson (saxophone, flute), Herbie Hancock (electric piano, organ), Ron Carter (bass) & Lenny White (drums), all former member of the legendary Miles Davis Second Great Quintet (1964-1969). Titles include heavy grooves ( The Intrepid Fox), Soul Jazz (Delphia) and modal forms (Red Clay). All tracks composed & arranged by Freddie Hubbard, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder, produced by Creed Taylor.

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

A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

 

Year : 1991
Label : Jive
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Conscious, Jazzy Hip-Hop

Formed in 1988 by Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi and Phife Dawg, all former members of New York collective, The Native Tongues, A Tribe Called Quest is one of the most influential Hip-Hop band of all time. The band recorded five albums before split-up after their "Love Movement" in 1998. The jazz-influenced album "The Low End Theory" is the best Hip-Hop album ever recorded including massive jazz samples extracted from classic recordings of Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, Grant Green or Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers. The album contributes also to launch Busta Rhymes' solo career with "Scenario". Titles include amazing featurings including legendary Jazz bassist Ron Carter on "Verses From The Abstract", Lord Jamar & Sadat X from Brand Nubian with Diamond D on "Show Business" and Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown & Dinco D, all members of Leaders Of The New School on "Scenario".

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".