The following came from another estate sale just a couple of weeks after the below, detailed primarily in the Funk / Soul journals (Mar):
Eddie Harris - Is It In. 1974 Atlantic (LP). I've run into this album a few times now between thrift shops and garage sales, but always took a pass. I thought it might be one of those silly funk albums ("Is it in?" hoho), and the resell value is pretty much nil. Ah what the heck - maybe it's a great jazz funk album after all. Ummm... no. But it's not what I thought either. In fact, it's kind of a weird album. Those opening electric sax notes from Harris reminded me of Tim Belbe's work with Xhol Caravan - maybe this is something? Unfortunately 'Funkaroma' lives up to its goofy name. In this album you'll hear jazz funk, straight jazz, experimental bits, and everything in between. And that can usually make for a great album in my world. But nothing really clicks here. There were no "let me hear that again" tracks. I've heard enough to keep exploring Harris, but I'm not holding onto this.
---end of sale
The following all came from a great score of jazz funk LPs at an estate sale (Mar).
*Billy Cobham - Crosswinds. 1974 Atlantic (LP). Crosswinds is a strong jazz rock/fusion effort, at times recalling his work with Mahavishnu Orchestra. John Abercrombie is a force here, doing his best to rival McLaughlin. Fine horns from the Brecker Brothers and Garnett Brown on trombone. Mixes in some mellow moments to give the listener a breather. A tad generic for the style, but still on the plus side of the genre.
*Harold Alexander - Raw Root. 1974 Atlantic (LP). Of all the albums in the batch, this is the one that I was most curious about. An intriguing cover with the promise of a deep groove flute driven music. I have to admit I wasn't sold after Side 1. It starts off auspiciously enough with a funky bass on 'Down Home', and there's some fine moments on 'De Black Magician' and its postlude 'Lady Euphoria'. But the money side is the flip. 'Street Life' is freakout flute city and some fine guitar from Junior Hanson (yes, the same dude who released two Hendrix-y albums in the 70s on Manticore). This style continues throughout the side, pushing this one into ownership category.
*Deodato 2. 1973 CTI (LP). Last year I picked up the promo 45 of 'Super Strut' at an estate sale, and was subsequently blown away. This has an even longer version of the cut. For all the rarities we constantly dig up, sometimes the best underground sounds can be found on a platinum seller. Guitarist John Tropea is absolutely on fire here. It's like the first Chicago Transit Authority and Isaac Hayes' Shaft, in that these mainstream albums have more freakouts per minute than is expected. I've enjoyed the more even popular Prelude for some years now, but Deodato 2 is actually better in my estimation. It's a misnomer by the way. Eumir Deodato's album output goes back to the mid 60s Bossa Nova scene while still living in Brazil. But most folks only know him for his association with a one Creed Taylor. My only wish is that Deodato would compose his own songs. 'Super Strut' is one. The other is the fantastic 'Skyscrapers' which also features Tropea going wild. Then we get the cover tunes. My problem with Deodato's covers is they are too familiar. He would be better served rearranging more obscure cuts. But no one can claim Deodato for not coming up with inventive arrangements. 'Nights in White Satin' also has a killer guitar mid-section that you would never have a chance to hear from the Moodies. Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' - which I always associate with United Airlines - is also much juiced up. The other track is a classical cover of a Ravel composition - is very stately - and somewhat out of place. Speaking of large ensembles, a cast of thousands played on this album. Comes in a nice gatefold. If you never thought to buy this - do so - it costs less than a hamburger, and I promise it will last longer.
*Donald Byrd - Stepping into Tomorrow. 1975 Blue Note (LP). And not surprisingly, this was next to Street Lady. As the first notes play, it's apparent the groove will remain the same. But it's even more slick, and adds female vocals to give it a more commercial feel. Gone is Roger Glenn and his flute, and his playing would have been perfect here. For this album, the best track IMO is towards the end, and that would be 'You are the World'. Overall not at the level of Street Lady, but a keeper all the same.
*Donald Byrd - Street Lady. 1973 Blue Note (LP). The first two tracks are about perfect for funky jazz. What a groove. Wonderful analog synthesizer, guitar, and of course Byrd's trumpet. Best of all is Roger Glenn's flute. He's killing it here. I love these large ensembles, and this one counts to 10. All six songs are great, but the first two and 'Witch Hunt' take the prize. Most of you guys probably know this one already, but new to me. Comes in a fine gatefold with a factory audiophile sleeve no less.
---end estate sale (Mar)
*Joe Henderson - Black is the Color. 1972 Milestone (LP). With the Lateef's (Jan). The opener 'Terra Firma' gets things going in a positive way with a deep funk track, and a killer groove. Very Miles Davis like, substituting the trumpet for Henderson's sax. Special mention goes to David Horowitz's synthesizer, which interestingly recalls the Love Cry Want album. 'Vis-a-Vis' is the requisite hard bop number. Side B opens with an intense hypnotic groove. But alas 'Foregone Conclusion' is only five minutes long, and should have gone on for another 15. The title track provides the noirish soft piece. The closer deviates from the formula, as 'Current Events' is an experimental composition. Fine in theory, but it's pretty noisy to be honest.
Yusef Lateef - 10 Years Hence. 1975 Atlantic (LP). With the other Lateef (Jan). More Lateef, which I'm looking forward to. This title is a bit too standards/trad for me. More in sound than actual tuneage. Most of these are originals, with some stretched out pieces from his late 1950s past. The opener is the most interesting for me, with its trance like flute passages. A fine jazz album, but I can't keep them all.
Yusef Lateef - Blues for the Orient. 1974 Fantasy (2xLP). Thrift shop find (Jan). This double LP set is a compilation and remaster of 2 albums: Eastern Sounds (1961) and The Sounds of Yusef from the Yusef Lateef Quintet (1957). It's an odd pairing as they don't really have a similar sound. As you may recall, Lateef is new to me, having found his 1969 Detroit album in RT's collection. Eastern Sounds has a cool mellow vibe. The Sounds of Yusef is very early in Lateef's career as a band leader. It is - as you might imagine - more trad jazz. There's some interesting avant garde ideas here, but for the most part the music moves away from where my interest in jazz lies. Of course it's very good for what it is, so don't pass up a chance to hear it if standard 50s jazz pushes your buttons.
* - Keeping for the collection
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