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