Patchwork 53

Some typical library stuff from great film music composer Vladimir Cosma.

Folie Douce

April Orchestra 34

Hi there ! It has been a long time, but "no rule" is one of my rules and "no politics" is one my politics, or at least the one of that blog ... This classic library LP (the number 34 of the "April Orchestra" catalogue) contains tunes recorded and composed in 1980 by some Czech musicians as Gustav Brom and Milan Svoboda. Well, no word, just listen.

Enjoy April !

Ca "Cool" De Source

Highlife (AVF 045)

Quite far from the first 70s albums of the nice SoundStage catalogue, this set contains typical late 80s synth sounds recorded in 1986 by Albert Alan Owen.
Unashamedly looping rhythm boxes, fat synthetizer chords and nostalgic melodies mixed in a bright fusion way with some pop touches.

Dressed To Kill

Sounds 80 (AMP 114)

Here is a nice little gem issued on Amphonic label and recorded in 1975 by some british library jazz funk cats of this area : Syd Dale, Steve Gray, among the most famous ones. This album offers up some classy and slick jazz funk themes all along larded with nice mellow arrangements.
To wit and do some useful commercials, some of the tracks of this album have been booted in a tasty Amphonic compilation that you can find here.

Long Time Gone

Plein Jazz

Here's one of the too much rare albums recorded by composer/leader Claude Cagnasso and his big band. This one is ripped from a rendition on Palm Vendémiaire label released in 1982. The album was originally released in 1977.
Tunes vary from modal, classy, latin, up-tempo swing to some jazz funk cuts as the groovy number The Mover.

Credits :
Tony Russo, Michel Barrot, Tony Brenes, Freddy Ovzepian, Michel Bos: trumpet - Jacques Bologonesi, Christian Guizen, Luis Fuentes: trombone - Maurice Sevrero, Bernard Camus: trombone bass - Francis Cournet: alto sax - Alain Hatot: alto tenor sax - Claude Thirifays, Jean-Michel Hervé: tenor sax - Gilbert Dal'Anese: bass - George Arvanitas: piano - Frédéric Sylvestre: guitar - Tony Bonfils: clarinet bass - Jean-Paul Batailley: drums - Jean Schulteis: percussions - Claude Cagnasso: leader - Pierre Goasguen, Guy Arbion: trombone - Patrick Bourgoin: alto sax - Maurice Vander: piano - Patrice Caratini: bass - Guy Bardet: trumpet - Benny Vasseur: trombone - Robert Castagne: trumpet - Gérard Massot: trombone - Gérard Berioz: percussions - Alex Perdigon: trombone - Christian Lete: drums - Teddy Hameline: alto sax - JF Leroux: conga - Didier Sutton: guiro

The Mover

Das Wunder Stereo

This interesting german lp released on Marcato label sounds like a demo lp to test your hi-fi installation on Side A, with several atmosphere noises and a man introducing them in german language.
Side B is fully instrumental, with some nice short cuts orcherstrated by British composers (Syd Dale, Steve Gray, etc) as "Number One Spy" or "In-Time", embedding different styles.

Shifting Sands Of Sound

Warmth II (70s)

Very rare private press jazz LP recorded in the 70s by several Santa Cruz musicians. This seems to be the second album by this group. It includes covers of standards like "Laura", "I Only Haves Eyes For You" and "I'll Never Smile Again".

Musicians :
Don McCaslin: vibes, piano - Gary Grifith: piano - Stan Poplin, Bob Boeme, Steve Berman: bass - Con Moto: drums - John Thomson: congas - Franck E. Castellanos: congas, trombone - Wesley Braxton: tenor sax - Wayne Goodwin: violin, viola - Larry Scale: guitar - Ron Williams, Harry Woodward: vocal

Here a cover of Lennon/McCartney standard

Fool On The Hill


Peace

Grant Green - Visions (1971)

Just one of my favorite jazz albums : soulful, mellow, intimist, groovy. It includes some standards as "We've Only Just Begun" and "Never Can Say Goodbye". And of course the sweet introspective and melancholic ballad "Maybe Tomorrow".

French writer Victor Hugo said : "Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad". And according to me, that's exactly what this tune deals with.

Musicians are :
Grant Green: guitar - Emanuel Riggins: electric piano - Chuck Rainey: electric bass - Billy Wooten: vibes - Harold Cardwell: drums & percussion - Idris Muhammed: drums - Ray Armando: conga.
Recorded on Blue Note label in 1971.

Maybe Tomorrow

Timing n°11 [De Wolfe]

It seems that this album fits quite well with Christmas and this spirit many would like to find out and keep inside. Childish pieces alternate with strange or more relaxing moods. And you even find an easy jazz waltz and a samba tune at the end of B side.
lp was released in 1976 on De Wolfe Music records (for In Editions label).
A side is composed and recorded by Daniel J. White, B side by Allan Feanch.

Good Morning Julie

We're #1 - The Perfect Circle (1977)

Rare lp relased by an obscure soul funk combo on Inner City Records in 1977 and produced by George Semper.

Featuring :
Carl (c-man) Walker: lead guitar/percussion/vocals/rhythm guitar - Clyde (czar) Dixon: lead vocals/guitar/percussion/background vocals - Dave (the world) Parnell: tenor/alto saxophone, flute, percussion - Flemmon Green Jr. (ratts): fluegelhorn/lead vocals/percussion/trumpet - Jimmy Smith (jimbo): congas/vocals/latin percussion - Ed (muff) Lyons: electric fender bass/percussion - Ed James (e.j.): drums (traps)/tenor toms/cabasa/vocals - George Semper: clavinet/fender rhodes/hammond organ/piano/string ensemble

This Love Is Mine


The Hands Of Time

Etienne Cap And His Orchestra - Flight Of Fancy (ISST 136)

This rare album by trumpetist Etienne Cap and his Orchestra was recorded on Intersound label (70s).
It contains some jazz funk tracks as the damn groovy "Take a Taxi" and the jazz-funker "Pass The Pepper" that can be found on now out-of-print french jazz funk compilations Funk De Luxe and Opération Héritage.
The lp also contains some easy bossa mid-tempo tunes but also some more cheesy compositions among them.

Musicians are :
Etienne Cap: trumpet/fluegelohrn/arrangement/production - Pepe Solera: tenor/soprano/alto saxophone, harmonica, flute - Thomas Strasser: electric and acoustic guitars, synthetizers - Eric Stevens: electric and acoustic bass - Ladia Basé: piano, fender rhodes, synthetizer - Alan Waterson: drums, percussion, syndrums - Freddie Santiago: percussion, Christian Finck: leader of the string ensemble

Here are two previews.

Flight Of Fancy


Take A Taxi

Steve Grossman - Born At The Same Time (1977)

This one is a very nice spiritual jazz album released on OWL records label in 1977 and recorded by tenor/soprano saxophonist Steve Grossman with a solid quartet featuring Daniel Humair on drums, Patrice Caratini on bass, and Michel Graillier on piano.
It seems that the CD reissue included "Lord Jesus Thinks On me" not available on the original vinyle edition.
Here's on preview one of the 9 tracks ripped from the LP.

March Nineteen

Romantic Music Vol.2 (Chappell CIS 5049)

This rare library music was released in 1975 on British Chappell label.
It includes short cuts with a laid back atmoshpere between jazz and bossa either played by small groups or soloists.

Intriguing mood with ...
Moonlight Rhythm


... Or some sweet bossa flute
Brazilian Nights


Comments are always appreciated, thanks for sharing ! Nuff said ...

Pierre Porte - Claviers Unlimited (MON 17)

On this easy lib lp recorded for Mondiophone label, French musician Pierre Porte (who composed many themes for french television in the 80s and had his own orchestra) play different keyboard types as accoustic and electric piano, harpsichord, glockenspiel or organ for example.

Thème 12

JC Pierric - GO Vol. 2 (1002)

Go Reggae Vol. 2 is the second album of the sweet and rare "Go" library series recorded in the early 80's by legendary french arranger/composer/instrumentist J.C. Pierric.

Here's one preview.

Ho mama


And check out J.C. Pierric's blog for more.

Chris Hinze - Vivat Vivaldi (1970)

Dutch flautist Chris Hinze is well known by jazz funk diggers for Bamboo Magic, an album recorded in 1978 with the Chris Hinze Combination formation.
In Vivat Vivaldi released for CBS records in Netherlands in 1970, he provides a beautiful work by paying tribute to classic composer and virtuoso violonist Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741). He shows in seven cuts choosen among the compositions of the baroque italian genius a nice ability to give them a natural jazz flavour. For each piece, the theme is exposed then musicians deeply appropriate themselves its spirit.
"Vivace from Sonata n° 6" is a long groovy 10 minutes piece with Hammond organ and hypnotic bass that spreads a sweet bluesy atmosphere.
"Allegro from Sonata n° 1 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 1)" is an uptempo swinging cut. "Largo From Concerto in C Major" is played as a nice introspective ballad. "Minuetto I/II Sonata n° 5 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 2)" has a nice spiritual touch.
"Allegro From Sonata n° 5" closes the album with a piece that begins like a chamber music theme with spinet in background and ends on an uptempo jazz cut played with bongos and an oriental-style flute.
The original Chris Hinze Quartet is accompanied with some other studio musicians.

Musicians :
Chris Hinze, Hutÿra Ferenc & Govert Jurrianse: flute, Henk Alkema: piano / spinet, Rob Langereis: bass, Peter Ypma: drums, Rien de Reede: alto flute, Wouler Möller: cello, Cor Willems: Hammond organ, Wim Vanderbeek: bongos

But let the music speak with the first cut of the album.

Vivace from Sonata n° 5 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 2)


A1 - Vivace from Sonata n° 5 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 2)
A2 - Vivace from Sonata n° 6 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 2)
A3 - Allegro from Sonata n° 1 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 1)
B1 - Largo From Concerto in C Major
B2 - Minuetto I/II Sonata n° 5 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 2)
B3 - Largo From Part IV (The Winter) Of "The Four Seasons"
B4 - Allegro From Sonata n° 5 ("II Pastor Fido" Vol. 2)

Fania All Stars - Delicate And Jumpy (1976)

One of the numerous albums of the huge catalog of the guaranteed quality Fania label. Salsa, boogaloo, latin jazz, etc. This label has represented all afro latin styles and its close derivatives.
Many great artists from Ray Barretto to Roberto Roena, from Tito Puente to Joe Bataan, from Joe Cuba to Mongo Santamaria, etc ... participated in the apogee of the label.

Just a note to say this lp also includes a version of the mellow Rosemary's Baby theme from prematuraly dead Polish jazz pianist Krzysztof Komeda.
Now about the album, it is surely neither the hottest nor the more salsa-oriented from the label, but it includes nice orchestrations/arrangements and we'll go back to more "hard salsa" later. But if you feel "caliente" now you can check out a hot session there.

Musicians :
Johnny Pacheco: flute & percussion, Bobby Valentin: bass, Ray Barretto: congas, Nicky Marrero: timbales, Roberto Roena: bongos, Papo Lucca: piano, Steve Winwood: guitar
Arranged and conducted by Gene Page.

First preview is the smooth I'll See You Again.

I'll See You Again


Second one is Fania All Stars'Cha Cha Cha. And it includes in the second part a nice groovy bass accompanied with flute that may give some ideas to some hip hop producers.

Fania All Stars'Cha Cha Cha

Unity - Blow Thru Your Mind (1974)

Here a nice ballad retrieved from this legendary spiritual jazz album leaded by saxophonist Byron Morris and his Unity band (Tony Waters on percussion, conga and maracas, Mike Kull on piano, Abdush Shahid on drums, Vince McEwan on trumpet, Milton Suggs on bass, Jay Clayton on vocals). It was recorded in 1974 and reissued some years ago. Just a sparkling fragment of a timeless lyrical meditation.

Transcendental Lullaby

Sweet Colours (MON 40)

Rare and great library music album released on Creasound label bringing together compositions by Janko Nilovic, Pierre Sellin, Pascal Auriat, etc. It just sounds like a late french 60s movie with many wordless vocals and nice string arrangements. Just listen to Deliria, Ballade Pour Une Voix, the beautiful ballad Du Sable Et Du Vent or the nice well-named bossa tune Bossa Beach and you will see what I mean. If you're into french library music you should purchase this gem if you find it.

Trumpet On The Beach


A1 - Le Vent Dans Les Algues
A2 - Adagio Sur La Plage
A3 - Le Soleil Sur La Neige
A4 - Bossa Beach
A5 - Verseau
A6 - Ballade Pour Une Voix
A7 - Trumpet On The Beach
B1 - Ciel De Vacances
B2 - Snow And Tears
B3 - Du Sable Et Du Vent
B4 - Deliria
B5 - Soleil De Minuit
B6 - Concerto Pour Une Etoile

Virus [OST] (1980)

Late 70s/early 80s saw the emergence of many post apocalyptic movies inspired from SF novels of the past decades. They were reflecting the ambient paranoia of this period of transition between the end of "flower power" insouciance and fear of a near apocalyptic future due to the threat of nuclear war. Of course it had become popular with movies as 1968's Planete of The Apes (and its psyche funk soundtrack) and then grew up with Mad Max or John Carpenter's Escape from New York.
Main theme is generally that whatever the level of technology human civilzation may have reached, human being will never get a full secure control on it and one day he will destruct himself and will go back to the original condition he never actually really left : an animal, only concerned by his more primary instincts.

Less popular Virus directed by japanese Kinji Fukasaku took also part in that new exciting although deeply pessimistic genre.
Now, back to this OST : LP includes solid jazz rock cuts, great orchestral arrangements and some vocals by Janis Ian on the main theme You Are Love. Teo Macero produced it.

Musicians :
Janis Ian: vocals, Chick Corea: keyboards, Larry Coryell: guitar, John Faddis: trumpet, David Sanborn: saxophone, Dave Valentin: flute, Kazumi Watanabe: guitar, Ron Carter: bass, Steve Gadd: drums, Steve Kahn: guitar, Dave Butterfield: saxophone, Wareen Bernhardt: keyboards, Dick Hyman: keyboards +
London Philarmonic Orchestra

Complete credits available here.

Marit


A1 - Adieu, Mon Amour
A2 - You Are Love (Toujours Gai Mon Cher)
A3 - Love Sweet Love
A4 - Bedroom
A5 - Sweet Truth
B1 - You Are Love (Toujours Gai Mon Cher)
B2 - MM 88
B3 - Marit
B4 - Struggle Is My Name
B5 - All To You

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