I Like It Like That (1994)
This album is billed as ‘acid jazz’, and if that’s defined by hard-funkin’ horns combined with modern beats, then this is certainly it. But it certainly doesn’t fall into the usual image of acid jazz, as being sort of mellow and ambient. This is anything but mellow; in fact, it’s easily the most lively of the JB Horns albums. Part of the reason the formula works so well here is that the drum programs are fortified with traditional funky instruments like the clavinet and Fender Rhodes. And Maceo himself gets down on the Hammond organ on several occasions in addition to blowing his horn. I would definitely recommend this CD to any Funkateer who loves hearing Maceo, Fred and Pee Wee blow their horns, particularly if they don’t mind a little of that hip-hop flavor. It’s a little less organic-sounding than their usual works, so jazz-oriented Funkateers might balk at the album’s overall sound. It’s slick, but not so slippery that you can’t get both hands on the funk.
“I Like It Like That” is typical of the rest of the album. It’s a dance funker that combines beats, a good bass groove and great horn lines to produce a party. Note the bits of “Cold Sweat” thrown in from time to time. “Homeboy” has more solid beats and Maceo’s funky organ playing. “Push” features a grooving bass and some more great horn lines. Maceo is particularly hot on “Evening In New York”, a slower tune with icy-cool horn lines. The clavinet’s presence is strongly felt. Maceo strikes again on “What Goes Around”, with references made to other P.Funk songs. “Chillin’ With Fred” is my favorite track, a slow, hot tune with more funky organ playing. “Picture On The Wall” is the album’s weak track, where the accompaniment is just too mellow. But “Bop U” closes things out nicely, a fun funk romp that sounds like the other fast funkers here. (www.duke.edu)
Tracks:
1. I Like It Like That
2. Homeboy
3. Push
4. Evening in New York
5. What Goes Around
6. Chillin’ With Fred
7. Picture on the Wall
8. Bop U
**Listen**
The J.B.’s Horns – I Like It Like That (1994)
Diciembre 31, 2008 a 4:30 pm (Funk, Jazz)
Chocolate Milk – The Best Ch.M. (2002)
Diciembre 31, 2008 a 1:33 am (Disco Funk, Funk, Soul)
Best Of Chocolate Milk. Edit 2002.
A New Orleans funk and soul ensemble who enjoyed moderate success in the mid-’70s, Chocolate Milk recorded for RCA from 1975 to 1983. Their roster included lead vocalist Frank Richard, saxophonist Amandee Castenell, trumpeter Joe Foxx, keyboardist Robert Dabon, guitarist Mario Tio, and drummer Dwight Richards. Their best songs were up-tempo and/or light dance/novelty numbers such as “Action Speaks Louder Than Words” in 1975, “Girl Callin” in 1978, and “Blue Jeans” in 1981. All were Top 20 R&B hits; they also tried ballads and heartache tunes, but Richard wasn’t as confident or effective on those.
Tracks:
01. Action Speaks Louder Than Words
02. Pretty Pimpin’ Willie
03. Ain’t Nothin’ But a Thing
04. People
05. How About Love
06. Running Away
07. Comin’
08. Girl Callin’
09 . Say Won’tcha
10. Groove City
11. Hey Lover
12. Blue Jeans
13. Let’s Go All the Way
14. Take It Off
15. Who’s Getting It Now
16. Honey Bun
**Listen**
Teddy Pendergrass – TP (1980)
Diciembre 31, 2008 a 1:03 am (Soul)
TP. (1980).
Teddy Pendergrass was near, if not at, the pinnacle of a prosperous music career upon this album’s release, which spawned two Top Ten singles. “Can’t We Try,” with its tender introduction, slowly builds into a dramatic vamp in which Pendergrass’ domineering baritone clinches each lyric with absolute conviction – an awesome display of vocal power and control. The compassionate number peaked at number three on the Billboard R&B charts after 16 weeks. Pendergrass did not lose any steam on the charts. The follow-up single, “Love T.K.O.,” came strong. His testimonial lead carried this crafty number to the second position on the charts, holding down that slot for five consecutive weeks before bowing after 18 weeks. However, the best track on this album is the duet with Stephanie Mills; “Feel the Fire,” penned by Peabo Bryson, rings with passion and sensuality. Pendergrass and Mills’ vocals strikingly contrast each other in an admirable way. The song was never a release, but remains a constant on Quiet Storm formats. On a few numbers, such as the Ashford & Simpson remake “Is It Still Good to Ya,” Pendergrass labors through the verses, struggling to find his form. Though a great song, it does very little for the former Blue Note. Notwithstanding, there are quite a few gems here.
Tracks:
1. Is It Still Good to Ya
2. Take Me in Your Arms Tonight
3. I Just Called to Say
4. Can’t We Try
5. Feel the Fire
6. Girl You Know
7. Love T.K.O.
8. Let Me Love You
**Listen**
Lee Oskar – My Road Our Road (1980)
Diciembre 31, 2008 a 12:49 am (Jazz, Pop)
My Road Our Road (1980)
It came as no surprise when Avenue reissued most of War’s ’70s albums on CD in the ’90s — many of those albums had been gold and platinum sellers as LPs, and the market for reissues of classic soul and funk was a healthy one. But because Lee Oskar’s solo albums of 1976-1980 were far from the huge sellers that War’s albums were, it came as a pleasant surprise when Avenue started reissuing them on CD in the ’90s.
First released on vinyl in 1980 and reissued on CD in 1995, My Road, Our Road was Oskar’s third solo album. The highlights of this mostly instrumental pop-jazz/R&B date include the mellow “Up All Night” and the good-natured “Song for My Son” as well as the evocative “My Road” and the moody “Our Road,” which features jazz saxophonist Pat Rizzo as well as Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim. It’s safe to say that the vast majority of War fans didn’t buy this album; however, it’s an enjoyable outing that did receive some attention in the quiet storm market.
Tracks:
1. My Road
2. Our Road
3. Up All Night
4. Song for My Son
5. Children’s Song (You Can Find Your Way)
6. Yes I’m Singing
**Listen**
The Blackbyrds – City Life (1975)
Diciembre 31, 2008 a 12:33 am (Funk)
City Life (1975)
The Blackbyrds — a jazz-funk outfit formed in a university class taught by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, who produced the albums and wrote most of the tunes — were more of an Earth, Wind & Fire-style horn band than a purist jazz crew, but few groups were better in their chosen style, and 1975’s City Life is probably their best album. It’s certainly their most successful, including the pop hit “Happy Music” and what has become their signature tune, a percolating Latin-flavored jam called “Rock Creek Park” that’s one of the pinnacles of ’70s jazz-funk. As on the bouncy title track, the lyrical content is minimal, a simple hypnotic chant, but the fluid interplay of the musicians, who are masters of the unison horn section and the polyrhythmic groove, is what’s important about this music. Other highlights include the funky southern-style soul of “Hash and Eggs” and the lyrical ballad “Love So Fine.” This is often-sublime stuff ripe for rediscovery by fans of ’70s funk, soul, and fusion. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Rock Creek Park
2. Thankful ‘Bout Yourself
3. City Life
4. All I Ask
5. Happy Music
6. Love So Fine
7. Flying High
8. Hash And Eggs
**Listen**
