Here’s the 4th post for ‘Friday 50’, albums from 50 years ago, or 1973. Previous recommendations were (title links to post upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again For The First Time; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones.
Trumpeter Donald Byrd’s Black Byrd was Blue Note’s biggest selling album for a while . Allmusic: “Sure, maybe the electric piano, sound effects, and Roger Glenn's ubiquitous flute date the music somewhat, but that's really part of its charm. Black Byrd was state-of-the-art for its time, and it set a new standard for all future jazz/R&B/funk fusions… Black Byrd stands as his groundbreaking signature statement.”
The album certainly kick-started the electric phase of his career. He released ~50 albums from 1955 to 1991, this was his ~35th release. Turn up the volume, to properly feel that funk bass groove -- which seems buried a bit in the mix.
Donald Byrd, Black Byrd, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Robin Lumley, keyboardist for 1970-80s jazz-fusion band Brand X, passed. Begun as a Phil Collins (Genesis) side-project, also included bassist Percy Jones and guitarist John Goodsall (RIP). The albums Unorthodox Behavior (1976) and Moroccan Roll (1977) are fusion classics. I saw them twice in a shoe box called The Golden Bear, in Huntington Beach, California. Jones and Goodsall were quite an under-known pair. RIP Robin.
Percy Jones statement re: Lumley death.
Brand X website.
Robin Lumley Wikipedia entry.
Brand X, Unorthodox Behavior, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.
Brand X, Moroccan Roll, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.
Here’s another post for ‘Friday 50’, albums from 50 years ago, or 1973. Previously (link to upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd.
Saxophonist/flutist Dave Liebman has over 250 albums in a lead role. 1973 gave us his 2nd release, First Visit, with pianist Richard Breibach, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Goes a bit free at times, but what Holland/DeJohnette, and, well, Liebman release doesn’t? Dave also played on Mr. Jones, above. Please enjoy a solid, early release, from a prolific jazz master.
Dave Liebman, First Visit, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Ray Shulman, bassist and multi-instrumentalist for the 1970s prog-rock band Gentle Giant passed recently. Nice obituary from LoudWire with nice videos. Free Hand was their first album I heard, so I always liked their rockier stuff, but it was all quintessential prog-rock.
LoudWire Ray Shulman obituary.
Ray Shulman Wikipedia page.
Gentle Giant, Free Hand, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.
Here’s Friday 50, albums from 50 years ago, or 1973. Time for some big band. Trumpeter Don Ellis released ~35 albums from 1960 to 1978, many of them big band and film scores, e.g. the 1971 Oscar Best Film ‘French Connection’, which earned him a Grammy.
Allmusic: “Ellis' Soaring orchestra has 7 brass (& tuba), 4 strong woodwind players, a string quartet, and an enlarged six-piece rhythm section that includes keyboardist Milcho Leviev. Ellis composed 4 of the 8 tunes." The album earned a Grammy nomination.
Sadly, this was the last album before a heart attack curtailed his career, and eventually his life in 1978. This is good big band, by a composer/arranger at the top of his game.
Previously (links to upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman First Visit.
Don Ellis, Soaring, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Captain Beefheart released 2 albums in 1972, the 2nd was Clear Spot. Is ‘twisted blues rock proto-punk’ a genre?
Allmusic: “The sound is great throughout, and the feeling is of the coolest bar-band in town, not to mention one that could eat all the patrons for breakfast if it felt like it. Consequently, fans of the fully all-out side of Beefheart might find the end result not up to snuff, but those less concerned with pushing back all borders all the time will enjoy his unexpected blend of everything tempered with a new accessibility.”
Captain Beefheart made ~12 albums between ‘67-’82.
Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band, Clear Spot, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
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Here’s another post for Friday 50, albums from 50 years ago, or 1973.
Allmusic: “The early work of alto saxophonist and composer Grover Washington, Jr. is a rare and beautiful thing to behold… Soul Box has Creed Taylor's production enhanced by a symphony orchestra and full-blown jazz band arranged and conducted by Bob James. Some of the session men include bassist Ron Carter, drummer Billy Cobham, guitarist Eric Gale, drummer Idris Muhammad, percussionist Airto, and keyboardist Richard Tee… Soul Box is a modern classic for its instrumental and arrangement invention and for its deeply emotional bounty.”
This was the 3rd of his 25 albums, from 1972-99. This was a double-album, over an hour of Grover’s finest. His 1988 album Then And Now was recommended upthread.
Grover Washington, Jr., Soul Box, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Previously (links to upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman First Visit; Don Ellis Soaring.
A pretty goodAl Stewart
Year of the Cat
1976