Eddie Henderson - "Inside Out" 1974

When I first purchased this LP in 1978, I was not thrilled with the content and performance.  I would certainly rate this genre in the Avantgarde arena, however as my musical tastes have matured, so has my appreciation for this LP.  If you did not know that this was Eddie Henderson, you would swear you were listening to a follow-on album from Miles Davis called "Bitches Brew 2".  That would be my closest classification, of course that came out in 1970, so it seems to make sense that's where inspiration to this LP came from....The talent on this album is awesome: Bennie Maupin, Herbie Hancock, Buster Williams on bass, and of course Eddie can be heard on Cornet, Trumpet and Flugels here...

This seems to be a rare LP Rip, I could not find another on the blogs, so please enjoy !

  Eddie Henderson - "Discoveries" by littlejazzarium

 Discoveries by littlejazzarium 

Bass, Bass [Fender] - Buster Williams
Clarinet, Clarinet [Bass], Flute, Flute [Alto], Piccolo Flute, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bennie Maupin
Congas - Bill Summers
Drums - Billy Hart , Eric Gravatt
Piano [Electric], Clavinet, Organ - Herbie Hancock
Producer - Skip Drinkwater
Synthesizer - Patrick Gleeson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cornet - Eddie Henderson

Matrix - "Harvest" 1981

This is my second post of a Matrix LP.  The group has their own website (www.matrixjazz.com) where LP's and CD's can be purchased, however "Harvest" and "IX" are totally out-of-print in any medium.  This LP still maintains the tight and dynamic brass arrangements that Matrix is known for.  It is amazing that the LP can still deliver the "punch" that CD's are well known for.  I am also displaying the back cover artwork just to give an idea of the group's makeup (photo of recording session). Click on the image below to get a full size view:

  Pony by littlejazzarium

I actually like this LP more than "IX", because I believe it is more melodic and structured, and therefore in my opinion, more to my liking.  My favorite cut is "El Tigre" and "Harvest", but all tracks are very good.  If you like this, go the group's website and purchase the CD's that are available.  Each track unfolds a story that is worthy of telling....I hope you enjoy!!

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Track 1: "El Tigre"

Soloists - John Harmon on Piano; Jeff Pietrangelo on Flugelhorn; RandyTico on Bass

Track 2: "Pony"

Soloists - John Harmon on Piano; Larry Darling on Flugelhorn

Track 3: "Harvest" (In Honor of the American Indian)

I. Prayer of Thanksgiving

II. Feast

III. Celebration Dance

Soloists - John Kirchberger on Alto Flute; Jeff Pietrangelo on Flugelhorn

Track 4: "Blue Black"

Track 5: "Maestro" (for Aaron Copland)

Soloists - Kurt Dietrich on Trombone; John Kirchberger on Saxophone

Track 6: "Balthazar"

Soloists - John Kirchberger on Soprano Saxophone; Mike Hale on Trumpet; Randy Tico on Bass

David Spinozza - "Spinozza*" 1978

When this LP was introduced, I really digged the cut "Airborne", but never purchased the LP. Then I recently came across this LP on another blog, and listened to it again, and thought it was fantastic, however, I was not satisfied with the sound quality of the LP Rip that was posted.  So I found a "Sealed LP" on eBay, and even had the original promotional stickers on the shrink wrap. I hope you enjoy this wonderful work from David Spinozza and Mike Manieri....and the sonic fidelity came out quite well too...Enjoy a time warp back to the jazz of 1978...

   David Spinozza - "On My Way To The Liquor Store" by littlejazzarium

Producer - David Spinozza , Mike Mainieri

Milt Jackson - "Olinga" 1974

Bass - Ron Carter

Drums - Mickey Roker

Piano - Cedar Walton

Saxophone [Soprano, Tenor] - Jimmy Heath

Vibraphone - Milt Jackson

Matrix - "Matrix IX" 1976

Matrix is a jazz fusion group that started in 1974. Their sound is noted for it's tight brass arrangements and very complex musical themes.  The closest mainstream group I would compare them to would be the early "Weather Report" recordings.  This album was a bit obscure even in it's day, and I dusted this original copy that I have had and gave it a listen. I was surprised by the dynamics and punch that these recordings could still deliver.  The titles and music on this LP are innovative and very engaging and have listed the full titles below.  My favorite is Track 1: "Earth And The Overlords"

BTW, they have a website where other works are available directly from Matrix this LP though is not available.
 Hope you enjoy this rare gem!

Track Listing

1.  Earth And The Overlords - Inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction novel Childhoods End

2.  Catalpa Complex

3.  Blue Snow

4.  Dark Riders - Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy Lord Of The Rings

5.  Clea - Inspired by Lawrence Durrell's literary creation Clea

6.  Geese

7.  The Last Generation -Also inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End

Download 320kbps MP3

Gary Criss - "Rio De Janeiro" 1978

Okay, I'm all over the map now with this one...I know this blog is called "Little Jazzarium", but believe it or not there is a certain "bossa-nova" feel to this CD, however, it's genre is classified as "Disco".  This CD is 'out-of-print' and is a hard-one to come by.  I got this one on eBay, and the seller was in Russia.  I almost bought this LP when it was originally released in 1978, but never did, and am very happy that I have secured a copy now.  I've always been a fan of the various covers of Jobim's timeless  "The Girl From Ipanema" and Gary Criss does a nice job with his version.  My favorite tracks are "Rio De Janeiro" and "Girl From Ipanema/Brazilian Nights" and "Calm Before The Storm".  Don't dismiss this album too quickly, give it a listen, you may be surprised??

Arranged By, Conductor - John Davis (5)
Backing Vocals - Carolyn Mitchell , Venice Thomas*
Bass - Vince Fay
Drums - Grant MacAvoy , Jimmy Young
Guitar - Craig Snyder
Horns, Strings - Don Renaldo Horns And Strings, The
Keyboards, Flute - John Davis (5)
Percussion - Jimmy Walker* , Larry Washington , Nick D'Amico

John Handy - "Carnival" 1977

It seems that much of  John Handy's repertoire is available on CD and digital download, with the exception of the years spanning 1976~1978.  There were three albums that were never released on CD, this one and "Where The Boats Go" and "Handy Dandy".  These albums are infused with the 70's jazz-funk style and other bloggers have made posts on these other 2 LP's.  I have not found a good quality archival of "Carnival", so here it is.  Most notable tracks are "Alvina" and the haunting "I Will Leave You" and the fanciful "Love's Rejoycing"...I hope you enjoy the Alto Sax sounds from JH.

Backing Vocals - E. Edwards* (tracks: B2) , John Handy (tracks: A3, B2) Bass - James Jameson, Sr.* (tracks: B1) , Rudy Coleman (tracks: A) , Vincent Jefferson* (tracks: B2, B4) Congas - Eddie "Bongo" Brown (tracks: A1, B1) , Paulo DaCosta* (tracks: B2, B4) , Tom Nicholas (tracks: A2 to A4) Drums - Harold Jones (tracks: B2, B4) , James Gadson (tracks: A1, A3, B1) , John Handy IV (tracks: A2, A4) Guitar - Larry Carlton (tracks: B1) , Lee Ritenour (tracks: A1) , Mike Hoffmann (tracks: A2 to A4) Keyboards - George Spencer (tracks: A3) , Reginald "Sonny" Burke* (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1,) Keyboards, Synthesizer [Arp] - Lee Ritenour (tracks: B2, B4) Percussion - E. Edwards* (tracks: A1, A4, B1) , John Handy (tracks: A2) Piano - Reginald "Sonny" Burke* (tracks: B2) Producer - Esmond Edwards Saxophone [Alto] - John Handy Synthesizer [Arp] - Reginald "Sonny" Burke* (tracks: A2, A4, B1) Vocals - John Handy (tracks: A4) Written-By - John Handy , Oscar Hammerstein* (tracks: B3)

Dexter Wansel - "Life On Mars" 1976

In it's day, I really did not appreciate the music from this LP, but as I go back and listen to it with more mature ears, I really dig this LP, and I hope you will too.  Dexter Wansel is keyboardist and main composer for this LP, and recognized by many as his best work.  Sure there are some touches of Disco-esque sound in this LP, but hey it was produced in 1976!  Dexter Wansel was a major influence to the popular Soul group of MFSB.  This PL was released the same time the Voyager Space probe was to explore the surface of Mars (hence the name).  Interestingly, the liner notes mentions that "why should we be searching for life on other planets, when we have not mastered life on Earth...".  This LP was released on CD but since has gone out of print, so I present my best attempt at a LP digital archival of this fantastic work from DW and the "photo-shopped" attempt to clean up the LP scan...so please enjoy!
P.S.  Found out that this LP was re-leased on CD as double CD along with another great DW LP, so I am going to purchase the CD version to get the cleanest sound available.  Sorry, link removed...but get the CD, "no regrets"!

Buy at Amazon!

Backing Vocals - Barbara Ingram , Carla Benson , Evette Benton
Bass - Derrick Graves
Drums, Percussion - Darryl Brown
Engineer - Jay Mark , Jim Gallagher
Guitar - Calvin Harris (3)
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals - Dexter Wansel
Saxophone, Flute - Bobby Malach*
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Al Harrison

Roy Ayers - "Feeling Good" 1982

While I have started to delve into jazz vibists, like Bobby Hutcherson, it has forced me to go back through my LP collection to find other albums that never made it to CD....so here goes.

Roy Ayer's repertoire are fairly well represented in the MP3 stores, however I did find some in my collection (I believe I have all of Roy Ayers LP's he has released) that never made it. I found "Feeling Good" and maybe more as I go back.  This LP is characteristic Roy Ayers (Jazz-Funk genre) although it balances more of funk than jazz.  My first Roy Ayers LP was "Ubiquity Vibrations" and still is one of my all-around favorites, and I recommend that you get that in your collection.  My favorite tracks on this LP are the mellow  "Ooh" and the high energy "Fire Up The Funk".  More jazz vibists to follow in the near future...stay tuned...

Track Listing

1.  Fire Up The Funk  
     Producer, Arranged By - Roy Ayers III* , Vesta Maxey
2.  Let's Stay Together
     Producer, Arranged By - James King (2) , John King (4) , Terri Wells
3.  Ooh
4.  Our Time Is Coming
5.  Turn Me Loose
6.  Knock, Knock
     Producer, Arranged By - Roy Ayers III* , Vesta Maxey
7.  Stairway To The Stars
8.  Feeling Good

Bobby Hutcherson - "Conception: The Gift Of Love" 1979

I purchased this album the week it was released, and at the time was not all that thrilled with the Vibes as a form of musical expression.  But after several listens to this LP and to Roy Ayers and Milt Jackson (over time), I have really learned to appreciate the musicality and expression of the vibes in jazz.  The music on this LP has great energy and warmth, it's hard to believe that this music still has never been released to CD after so many years...?  There are several Bobby Hutcherson releases, but this LP is not one of them.

On this LP there are several notable sidemen featured: Hubert Laws on flute and Jon Faddis on trumpet along with Urbie Green on trombone.  As the title suggests, Bobby Hutcherson and his wife are having a baby...and he states on the liner notes that playing and writing this music gratifies like no other time before.  He mentions that he is still a "bopper" at heart (referring to Be-Bop), and the music on the release is at its core Be-Bop, however, he is "playing with more sophisticated rhythms (like more 6/8) and new harmonic structures and melodic concepts".

With that I hope that you enjoy, my favorites are "No Siree Bob" and "Dark Side-Light Side", but all the cuts are very notable.  The music fidelity is above average too!

Bass - James Leary
Drums - Eddie Marshall (2) 

Flute - Hubert Laws 

Percussion - Bill Summers (tracks: A2, A3) , Kenneth Nash 

Piano - George Cables 

Saxophone [Alto] - Lenny Hambro
Saxophone [Baritone], Clarinet [Bass] - Romeo Pinque*
Saxophone [Tenor] - Danny Trimboline* , Frank Wess
Trombone [Tenor] - John Gale , Robert Alexander , Urban Green*
Trumpet - Anthony Tooley , Danny Moore , Earl Gardner , Joseph Wilder* , Jon Faddis
Vibraphone - Bobby Hutcherson

Norman Connors - "Dark of Light" 1973

I have always been a Norman Connors fan since I purchased his LP's "You Are My Starship" and "Romantic Journey", what great albums they were to me, and started collecting everything I could get from Mr. Connors.  The "Dark of Light" was his second album release and I really like almost every cut on this LP, but my favorites are the title cut and "Butterfly Dreams".  The album does paint a somewhat 'dark' landscape and I love the vocal accents provided by Dee Dee Bridgewater.  Eddie Henderson on trumpet was a great choice too.  Classic 70's jazz style that I like so much... Hope you enjoy...

1. Dark Of Light     11:45
2. Butterfly Dreams  5:15
3. Laughter 2:55
4. Black Lightnin 11:50
5. Twilight Zone 1:30
6. Song For Rosa 2:00

Bass - Buster Williams (tracks: A1) , Cecil McBee , Stanley Clarke (tracks: B1)
Congas - Lawrence Killian
Drums - Norman Connors 

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Ted Dunbar (tracks: A1)
Electric Piano - Elmer Gibson (tracks: B1)
Electric Piano, Piano - Herbie Hancock 

Flute - Art Webb
Flute [Alto], Bassoon - Alfred Williams (tracks: B1)
Percussion - Gerald Roberts (tracks: B1) , Henry Palmer (tracks: B1) , Warren Smith 

Piano - Alan Gumbs (tracks: B2) 

Saxophone [Alto] - Gary Bartz
Saxophone [Tenor], Saxophone [Soprano] - Carlos Garnett
Strings - Gail Dixon , Jerry Little , Pat Dixon
Trumpet - Eddie Henderson
Vocals - Dee Dee Bridgewater , Ellen DeLeston , Michael Brown (3)

Ryo Kawasaki - "Eight Mile Road" 1976

I came across this LP back in my college DJ days, in that it was one of those promotional copies.  I had never heard of Ryo Kawasaki before, and was immediately impressed with his guitar skills. But what sticks with me from this album is the cut "Montevideo", which seems to only have been placed on this LP.  I searched for a copy of the LP recently, and instead was able to find an out-of-print CD from Taiwan on eBay.  I immediately snatched it up.  This album is still unavailable (in any form), so I post it here for your enjoyment.   

Bass [Electric] - Herb Bushler
Congas, Percussion - Abdullah (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2)
Drums - Buddy Williams
Engineer [Recording, Mix Down] - David Baker
Piano [Acoustic, Fender Rhodes], Clavinet [Hohner], Synthesizer [Arp String Ensemble] - Andy Laverne
Producer [Executive] - Toshinari Koinuma
Producer, Written-by, Guitar [Electric] - Ryo Kawasaki
Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano] - Sam Morrison (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2)
Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey] - Phil Clendeninn (tracks: A1, B1, B2)

Worldwide Groove - "Reaching For You" 1997

This group borders between jazz-soul group and acid-jazz. They are not be mistaken with Worldwide Groove Corporation, which is a totally different group. This group's sound is similar to that of Incognito but with simpler arrangements.  I stumbled across this group in a Border's Bookstore that offered Live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and was overwhelmed by the music they were giving the audience.  Normally these live performers are one-person bands, whereas Worldwide Groove had a full band with lead female vocalist and background vocalists.  Needless to say, they were a bit much for a bookstore, but I really enjoyed their music and bought their CD. They do have great harmonies, and relaxing melodies...its too bad that this their only release that I know of....? It is poorly circulated and out-of-print from the manufacturer.  My favorite cuts are "Reaching For You" and "And The Rain".  Enjoy....posted at 128kbps, their CD can be had at many used CD stores....so please go get a copy!

  And The Rain by littlejazzarium 

Lead Vocals - Sonya Mendez

Guitar - Anthony Forcucci

Drums - John Pickard

Percussion - Jerald Sherman

Keyboards - Sam Gigliotti

Bass - Andres Soler

Raul DeSouza - "Sweet Lucy" 1977

Well it was a very busy December, and unfortunately did not meet up to my 4 posts per month goal.

At least I can start the 2010 year off with an excellent, but seemingly forgotten album by Raul DeSouza.  This  LP was produced by George Duke, and certainly was responsible for getting a fair amount radio airplay. I always liked the the Title song "Sweet Lucy", but never purchased the LP.  I got this LP in the mid 90's as an audiophile pressing from a company called ATS out of Germany.  I was very impressed with the audio quality of this pressing.  But the music... this LP contains RD's biggest hit ever: "Sweet Lucy". It received a fair amount of air play in 1977 and 1978, mostly from disco and jazz radio stations, as this track certainly rides the line between the two genres.  This is the longer version at 5:27, most of the radios played a shorter version at around 3 minutes or so.   I believe the trombone and keyboard solo were cut and some choruses removed.  There are other great songs, such as Lonnie Liston Smith's "A Song of Love" and the engaging and complex "Wild And Shy" with a nicely done Freddie Hubbard solo.  This LP is definitely worth the listen, so enjoy!

Download 192 kbps WMA

 Sweet Lucy by littlejazzarium 

Credits

Bass - Byron Miller , Embamba (tracks: 6, 7)
Drums - Leon Ndugu Chancler
Guitar - Al McKay
Keyboards - Dawilli Gonga (tracks: 1, 2, 6) , Patrice Rushen
Mixed By - Kerry McNabb
Percussion - Airto* (tracks: 4, 6, 8)
Producer - George Duke
Synthesizer - Ian Underwood
Trombone - Raul De Souza
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Freddy Hubbard* (tracks: 2, 3, 8)

Backup Vocals - Deborah Thomas (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
Lynn Davis (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
Sybil Thomas (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
Victoria Miles (tracks: 1, 2, 5)