Betty Davis - The Columbia Years 1968-1969

Year : 2016
Label : Light In The Attic
Genre : Jazz, Rock, Soul
Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Betty "Davis" Marbry presents her recordings sessions for Columbia, during the 1968-1969 period featuring Miles Davis as arranger and Teo Macero as producer. The first six songs were recorded in 1969 at Columbia Studios, New York with the famous Jimi Hendrix musicians Billy Cox from Band of Gypsys) & Mitch Mitchell from Jimi Hendrix Experience, Harvey Brooks from Super Session and the giants of Jazz : Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Larry Young and Wayne Shorter. The last three tracks were recorded in 1968 at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, with Hugh Masekela and featuring The Crusaders. Titles include unrealeased tracks, demos and alternate takes, written by Betty Davis except "Born On The Bayou" by John Forgety and  "Politician Man" by Jack Bruce.

MUSICIANS : Betty Davis - vocal - Billy Cox - drums - Mitch Mitchell & Harvey Brooks - bass - Herbie Hancock - keyboard - Larry Young - organ - John McLaughlin - guitar - Wayne Shorter & Wilton Felder - saxophone - Joe Sample - piano - Wayne Henderson - trombone

TRACKLIST : Hangin' Out (demo) - Politician Man (demo) - Down Home Girl (take 4) - Born On The Bayou (demo) - I'm Ready, Willing & Able (take 1) - I'm Ready, Willing & Able (take 9) - It's My Life (take 8) - Live, Love, Learn (take 12) - My Soul Is Tired - (take 9)

Jimmy Smith - Root Down - Live!

Year : 1972
Label : Verve
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

Fabulous and most famous live recording from Los Angeles by the Hammond B3 organist star, the 'Godfather' of Soul Jazz, Jimmy Smith featuring bassist Wilton Felder & guitarist Arthur Adams from The Crusaders, drummer Paul Humphrey, percussionist Buck Clarke and harmonica player Steve Williams. Titles include more Jazz with heavy Funk/Soul expressions than pure Soul Jazz style among the Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together", three Jimmy Smith's compostions whose "Root Down (And Get It)" sampled by the Beastie Boys on "Root Down" extracted from "III Communication" (1994).

Shuggie Otis - Here Comes Shuggie Otis

Year : 1970
Label : Epic/Sony
Genre : Soul, Jazz, Rock
Style : Soul, Jazz, Psychedelic Soul

Debut album of the "Jimi Hendrix" of Soul music featuring jazz great bassist Al McKibbon, Preston Love (fl, sax), Wilton Felder (eb) and "Stix" Hooper (ds) from The Crusaders. At just fifteen year old, his father, the famous musician and producer Johnny Otis, introduces him on his shows and Al Kooper invited him to participate to the "Kooper Session" recordings in 1969 alongside Stephen Stills and Mike Bloomfield. After only three solo albums, he becomes again a session musician for his father. "Here Comes Shuggie Otis" crosses musical boundaries and contributes to the emergence of the Psychedelic Soul style including "Oxford Gray", reminiscent of the Hendrix guitar-playing. Titles include Soul Jazz (Bootie Cooler, Funky Thithee), Soul Funk (Hurricane), Blues (Shuggie's Boogie), Blues Rock (Gospel Groove, Hawkins), Folk Rock (Knowing (That You Want Him)) and Pop (Jennie Lee).

LISTEN SAMPLE

The Jazz Crusaders - Chile Con Soul

Year : 1965

Label : Pacific Jazz

Genre : Latin Jazz

Label : Afro Cuban Jazz

"The Jazz Crusaders" were originally formed by Joe Sample (p), Wilton Felder (ts), Nesbert "Stix" Hooper (ds) and Wayne Henderson (tb), later joined by Larry Carlton in 1971. "Chile Con Soul" is their ninth album recorded for Pacific Jazz. It includes including a nice selection of eight latin grooves played in the pure Afro-Cuban style featuring notable musicians such as flutist Hubert Laws (fl), Cuban percussionist Carlos Vidal (cg) and Al McKibbon (b). In the seventies, they take a new route adopting jazz funk and become The Crusaders.