HARVEY MASON – SHO NUFF GROOVIN’ YOU: THE ARISTA RECORDS
ANTHOLOGY 1975-1981
Sho nuff grooves from the great Harvey Mason – a jazz
drummer at heart, but one whose talents also exploded into the realm of funk
and soul in the second half of the 70s! Mason was part of a big generation of
jazzmen who moved into soul – drummers like Billy Cobham and Norman Connors, or
other talents like Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson – all of whom we'd use as a
comparison to Harvey's excellent work on this collection! With his own drums at
the core, Mason was able to open things up in so many ways – inviting in some
of the cream of the crop of the fusion scene to work on his records – and also
working with top-shelf vocalists like Merry Clayton or Randy Crawford, although
Harvey also delivered some great vocals of his own! The 2CD set brings together
the best cuts from Harvey's years at Arista Records – a great run of albums
that sound even better here, condensed into a 33 track offering that also
includes some 12" mixes and unusual moments. Titles include "Groovin
You (12" mix)", "Here Today Gone Tomorrow", "First
Summer", "Modaji", "Marching In The Street", "KY
& The Cur", "Wild Rice", "Wave", "The
Mase", "We Can Start Tonight", "Till You Take My
Love", "On & On", "Space Cadets", "Sho Nuff
Groove", "Universal Rhyme", "Funk In A Mason Jar",
"Never Give You Up", "Say It Again", "When I'm With
You (live)", "What's Going On", "Earthmover Prelude",
"Bertha Baptist", "Ballad For Heather", "Set It
Free", and "Going Through The Motions". ~ Dusty Groove
JAY KING – HELEN’S SON
Jay King's had quite a career in soul music – some of it
back in the 80s, through his work with Club Nouveau – and lots of it behind the
scenes, as a writer, producer, and greater creative force in the business! Yet
standing up front here on his own, Jay's maybe in his greatest position ever –
really turning into a great mellow soul singer in his later years, and serving
up a set of original tracks that should have been classics! Production is
tight, but never slick – and there's often some strong use of saxophone next to
King's voice – which has a raspy charm as it flows out over the keyboards, on
titles that include "Good Kinda Lovin", "Runnin",
"Trying To Get You Back", "I'm Where You Belong", "The
One", and "Take My Breath Away". CD also features two bonus
tracks – "Runnin (Boogie Back radio)" and "Runnin (Boogie Back
extended)". ~ Dusty Groove
URBANITY –URBAN SOUL
The collaboration between Albare and Phil Turcio started 27
years ago when Albert Dadon – aka Albare – was looking for a new pianist for
his band. At the time Phil had just turned 18. Albare recalls: “He was not even
the youngest member of the band then; our drummer just turned 17. These guys
sounded so good, it was a pleasure already to play with them.” Phil explains that
he and Albare hear music in the same way: “Everything I throw at Albare comes
back as if I would have played it myself.” From beginning to end, listeners
will hear the duo’s innate instincts, the perfect partnership, the gorgeous
groove of two friends making music. “We love jazz, but not in the traditional
sense,” says Albare. “I think that Jazz of the 21st Century is all
encompassing. There are no limits.” That thought is evident as Albare and Phil
Turcio come together as Urbanity.
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