Bennie Maupin - The Jewel In The Lotus (1974)

Bennie Maupin - The Jewel In The Lotus (1974) ECM

Bennie Maupin first caught my ear on The Headhunters - Survival of the Fittest playing bass clarinet....later discovering that he was the bass clarinet on Miles - Bitches Brew. He was born in Detroit and was heavily influenced by Yusef Lateef and Eric Dolphy.

Bennie Maupin: reeds, voice, glockenspiel; Herbie Hancock: piano, electric piano; Buster Williams: bass; Frederick Waits: drums and marimba (left channel); Billy Hart: drums (right channel); Bill Summers: percussion, water-filled garbage can; Charles Sullivan: trumpet.

This album has a very interesting feel, especially because of the the way Billy and Frederick are panned hard left and right in the mix. Experimental ideas that display very artistic adventures. Overall this record takes me to the place I need to be.

Link.

BEATSWAPMEET 2009

BEATSWAPMEET June 14, 2009

Los Angeles BEAT SWAPMEET Record Expo - All Ages. When: Sunday, June 14, 2009 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM PDT Where: Grand Star Jazz Club 943 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012

FREE Entry w/Canned Good per person... or else $5/personEarly bird entry also available: $5 11am-12pm

http://www.myspace.com/beatswapmeet

Bobbi Humphrey - Satin Doll (1974)

Bobbi Humphrey - Satin Doll (1974) Blue Note

Arranged and Conducted by Larry Mizell (grab all Mizell Bros. work...off the hook!)

Flute and Vocals: Bobbi Humphrey - Piano: Jerry Peters - Bass: Chuck Rainey and Wayne Tweed - Drums: Harvey Mason - Guitars: Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin and John Rowin - Congas: King Errison - Fender Rhodes: Larry Mizell and Fonce Mizell - Clavinet: Fonce Mizell, Jerry Peters, Larry Mizell and Chuck Davis - Trumpet: Fonce Mizell - Percussion: Stephany Spruill and Roger Sainte - ARP: Larry Mizell - Moog: Don Preston and Phil Davis - Background Vocals: Larry Mizell, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren, Chuck Davis and Samantha Harris.

The album in its entirety is soulful and funky as all hell. On some Cadillac shit for sure. I hope you feel the same.

Link.

The Undisputed Truth - Cosmic Truth (1975)

The Undisputed Truth - Cosmic Truth (1975) Motown

First off Produced and Arranged by BIG BAD Norman Whitfield (anything this man touches becomes a heavy hitter...so be on the look out!) Keyboards: Mark Davis - Bass: Henry Davis - Guitars Johnny McGhee, Dennis Coffey, Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin, Eddie Willis and Paul Warren - Drums: James Gadson, Eddie Fisher, Eddie Green and Zachary Slatter - Percussion: Eddie "Bongo" Brown and Bob Zimitte.  

The sound is funky and real.  One of Motown's heavy hitters.  

Link.

Sa-Ra Creative Partners Presents: Sonic Seduction Vol. 1 (2007)

SA-RA Creative Partners - Sonic Seduction Vol. 1 (2007) Jazzy Sport 

The SA-RA Creative Partners are three dope producers: Om'Mas Keith, Shafiq Husayn, and Taz Arnold.  Simply put these guys have that next level sound that not a lot of people know about yet.  There is a Vol. 2 of this out too, and a full length out called The Hollywood Recordings, and a new full length coming out June 23, 2009 called Nuclear Evolution: The Age Of Love. 

Link.