Cold Grits...Cold Bear!!

A 2004 reissue of these two songs by Cold Grits and The Gaturs. Stone funk classic!

a) It's Your Thing-Cold Grits

b) Cold Bear-The Gaturs

The Bagpipes Of Rufus!!

Enjoy

The Dopeness!!

James Spaulding

a) Uhuru Sasa/ b) Give It Up

Sample the sickness.....

People Get Ready!!

By Wayne Henderson who was part of
The Jazz Crusaders/ The Crusaders.

Liberating The Sounds Of Jazz!!

Remaining on the subject of Byard Lancaster, here is a group he was in named Sounds Of Liberation. This is quite the bipolar album being that half of the tracks are free jazz and the others are hip-soul jazz. Also, the song lengths are either a few minutes or 10 to 20 minutes. But, that just means there is something for us all. Here is a synopsis of them found on Amazon:

'Formed in the early 70s, the Sounds of Liberation was a group of Philadelphia musicians made up of Byard Lancaster, Khan Jamal, Monnette Sudler, Omar Hill, Dwight James, Rashid Salim and Billy Mills. The Sounds of Liberation mixed jazz, funk, free jazz and spiritual jazz into a harmonious celebration of sound. With their infectious music they even found themselves playing along side Kool and the Gang at the 6th Annual Miss Black America pageant.'

As that review notes, this group is liberating (pardon that word) in it's lack of any definitive sub-genre. I thought to choose yet another that although contains free jazz, it's in bite sizes, and mixed with a soulful style, making it more palatable. So, if you enjoyed yesterday's post, then I know you're gonna dig this!

A sample.....

Funny Funky Rib Crib!!

You know with a title like that, it has to be good!

Amazon editorial review:

'Byard Lancaster is one of the leading figures in the Free Jazz movement surprising many of his fans with more funky orientated grooves on the Funny Funky Rib Crib LP which was originally released on the obscure French Jazz imprint Palm recordings by Jef Gilson.'

Love free spiritual jazz? Byard is your man. Looking further in to his career, he has worked with Sun Ra, McCoy Tyner, and Memphis Slim, among others. Playing the flute and the sax, he also studied piano, singing, composing, arranging and conducting....sigh....Yeesh! Talk about thoroughly trained. Louis Armstrong use to mock the new kind of jazz as being disorganized and incomprehensible. To me, it's like the great modern painters of the 20th century who, unknown to the public, where extraordinarily well studied and able in the traditional fine arts, yet chose to make something innovative and strange. Same with the new jazz of that time. What I mean to say is that these musicians were creating exactly what they envisioned. These seemingly 'free disorgainzed' sounds were absolutely intended. But, I digress. As stated in the review, this is a funkier album. His others are surely on the free jazz front, and that's cool if you dig it. But even the most ardent jazz lover can waiver in the face of this sub genre, so I have chosen this one for youz guyz, not knowing your tolerance level. Well, without further adieu, here is 'Funny Funky Rib Crib'.

The Free Slave!!

"Straight ahead jazz with a funky trip", is how one review describes it. Another beautiful early 70's release from Muse. Roy Brooks is obviously noted as a superior drummer and leader, though all of the present musicians are deserving here. Listed on the cover, here is what they play: 

Cecil McBee-bass

Woody Shaw-trumpet (b4 he was well known)

Hugh Lawson-piano

George Coleman-sax

This is considered Roy's top release, and it just might be. Considering that it's a recorded live show, this quintet has impressive timing and musical banter. It is a lot more organized than his 'Ethnic Expression' with the Artistic Truth (and I promise to post that one soon for yuz guyz). 'Ethnic Expression' is really solid, just not as well performed as well as garage-made in recording quality. Any spiritual soul jazz lover will want anything by Roy. If he is new to you, start with this magical gem. Do yourself a favor and drop this in your crate!

Listen.....