Bill Connors - Double-Up

Guitarist Bill Connors has forged a successful career by mixing light, pop-oriented fusion cuts with more ambitious works that showcase his considerable solo abilities and compositional skills. This was a trio date with Connors (who doubled as producer) playing in an introspective vein, showing his funk and rock side, and then playing with more imagination and style. The playing time was quite short (35 minutes-plus), but there was enough of Connor's guitar work presented to satisfy his fans and fusion/pop/light jazz followers.

1. Subtracks
2. Tud
3. Floor to Floor
4. Crunchy Cuts Up
5. Long Distance
6. Out by Twelve

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Bill Connors - Step It

This session accented the funk/R&B and rock elements of Connor's arsenal; the eight selections were dominated both by drummer Dave Weckl's prominent backbeats and Connor's riffs and dashing licks, as well as catchy hooks, progressions, and patterns from bassist Tom Kennedy. Such songs as "A Pedal," "Brody," and the title cut weren't melodically sophisticated, but had a bass-heavy structure and quick, animated solos. Althohugh the date is a bit old, its qualities prove a perfect fit on several new adult contemporary and lite-jazz outlets.

1. Lydia
2. A Pedal
3. Step It
4. Cookies
5. Brody
6. Twinkle
7. Titan
8. Flickering Lights

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Yusef Lateef - The Gentle Giant

Damn funky Yusef Lateef! The record's one of Lateef's best on Atlantic -- as it combines the funky style the label was working him in, with some of the more complicated, tripped-out styles he was forging on earlier records. The standout cut is the long take on Kenny Barron's "Nubian Lady" which begins the record -- and Kenny also contributed the tighter grooving "Jungle Plum". Other tracks include "African Song", "Queen Of The Night", "Poor Fishermen", "Below Yellow Bell", and a strange version of "Hey Jude" that goes on for a long time, and really messes with the volume -- listed on the cover with the note "Do not adjust the playback level on your audio equipment -- readjust your mind!"

1. Nubian Lady
2. Lowland Lullaby
3. Hey Jude (Do not adjust the playback level on your audio equipment -- readjust your mind!)
4. Jungle Plum
5. Poor Fishermen
6. African Song
7. Queen of the Night
8. Below Yellow Bell

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with thanks to ISounds

Ray Draper Quintet featuring John Coltrane - New Jazz 8228

Ray Draper was only 17 when he led this date (all four of his sessions as a leader were made before he turned 20) and was brave (or foolhardy) enough to team up with tenor saxophonist John Coltrane (who was 14 years older and already a major name) in a quintet also including pianist Gil Coggins, bassist Spanky DeBrest, and drummer Larry Ritchie. Draper had ambitious dreams of making the tuba a major jazz solo instrument; the tuba/tenor front line is an unusual and generally successful sound, although Draper's solos on this reissue -- on three of his originals: Sonny Rollins' "Paul's Pal," the show tune "Under Paris Skies," and a tuba feature without Coltrane, "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" -- are clearly not on the same level as those of Coltrane or Coggin. One does admire Draper's courage, and it is a pity that he hardly recorded at all after 1960 because he had strong potential.

Personnel:
Ray Draper: tuba;
John Coltrane: tenor sax;
Gil Coggins: piano;
Spanky De Brest: bass;
Larry Ritchie: drums

1. Clifford's Kappa
2. Filidia
3. Two Sons
4. Paul's Pal
5. Under Paris Skies
6. I Hadn't Anyone Till You

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Freddie Hubbard - Sky Dive

Along with Keep Your Soul Together and In Concert (w/Stanley Turrentine), this album was one of Freddie Hubbard's last good albums before he signed to Columbia and started putting out commercial schlock. For starters, just look at the band on this date: George Benson, Hubert Laws, Keith Jarrett, Ron Carter, and Billy Cobham plus the usual extended cast of CTI studio musicians. Few bassists can lay down the funk tastefully like Carter, and his intro on "Povo" will make you say "Good Gracious!" For groove addicts like myself, this and the title track are alone worth the price of the album. There aren't too many surprises on Sky Dive, and it lacks the fire of Hubbard's earlier masterpieces Straight Life and Red Clay, but it's a real treat to hear all these guys coming up with some creative, funky music before things descended into disco hell. By the way, this is also great driving music.

Personnel:
Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm (trumpet, flugelhorn); Wayne Andre, Garnett Brown (trombone); Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Tony Price (tuba); Phil Bodner (piccolo, flute, alto & bass flutes, bass clarinet); Wally Kane (piccolo, bass clarinet); Hubert Laws (flute, alto & bass flutes); George Marge (flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); Romeo Penque (flute, alto flute, clarinet, oboe, English horn); Keith Jarrett (acoustic & electric pianos); George Benson (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); Billy Cobham (drums); Ray Barretto, Airto Moreira (percussion).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on October 4 & 5, 1972.

1. Povo
2. In A Mist
3. Naturally
4. Godfather, The - (from "The Godfather")
5. Sky Dive
6. Naturally - (previously unreleased, alternate take)

Part 1
Part 2

Mongo Santamaria - Explosion

This is a re-issue on Riverside Records by percussion player Mongo Santamaria, there is no year of release stated on the sleeve but the material must be from the 60ies, players are Mongo Santamaria on congas and bongos, M. Sheller on trumpet, R. Caper on sax, H. Laws on sax and flute, R. Garant on piano, V. Venegas on bass, C. Garcia on timbales, F. Lucas or J. Cobbs on drums, C. Martinez on cow bell, W. Kortwright on guiro and Nat Adderley on cornet.

1. Skins
2. Fatback
3. Hammer Head
4. Dot, Dot, Dot
5. Corn Bread Guajira
6. Dirty Willie
7. Sweet 'Tater Pie
8. Bembé Blue
9. Dulce Amor
10. Tacos
11. Para Ti

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with thanks to Smooth

Freddie Hubbard - A Soul Experiment

This is a funky and groovy album by trumpet player Freddie Hubbard, released on Atlantic Records in 1969, personnel is Carlos Garnett on sax, Billy Butler or Eric Gale on guitar, Gerry Jemmott on bass, Kenny Barron on piano, Gary Illingworth on organ and Grady Tate or Bernard Purdy on drums.

1. Clap Your Hands
2. Wichita Lineman
3. South Street Stroll
4. Lonely Soul
5. No Time To Lose
6. Hang 'Em Up
7. Good Humor Man
8. Midnite Soul
9. Soul Turn Around
10. A Soul Experiment

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with thanks to Smooth