Friday, July 1, 2011

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

Thursday, June 30, 2011

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

Monday, May 9, 2011

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

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

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

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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

Thursday, December 23, 2010

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

Saturday, December 4, 2010

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

Friday, December 3, 2010

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