O'Donel Levy - Simba

Year : 1973

Label : Groove Merchant

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk

Rare  groove cult LP by jazz fusion guitarist O'Donel Levy composed in association with saxophonist, arranger Manny Albam  and featuring Steve Gadd, John Faddis, Eddie Daniels, the soilists Burt Collins &  Cecil Bridgewater. Titles include the wellknown Bad, Bad, Simba which appears on many compilations as the Pulp Fusion series and the incredible highly funky Playhouse with the unleashed solo flute of Daniels. All tracks arranged by Manny Albam and produced by Sonny Lester.

O'Donel Levy_guitar

Tony Levin_bass

Steve Gadd_drums 

Warren Bernhardt_keyboards 

Eddie Daniels_flute, piccolo flute, saxophone 

Bill Watrous_trombone 

Alan Rubin, Burt Collins, Cecil Bridgewater & Lew Soloff_flugelhorn

Burt Collins, Ernie Royal, Jon Faddis & Lew Soloff_trumpet

Jim Madison_percussion

01. Bad, Bad, Simba
02. Kilimanjaro Cookout
03. Playhouse
04. Sierra Lonely
05. Sad, Sad, Simba
06. Joni
07. Nigerian Knights

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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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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