Minnie Riperton - Aventures In Paradise

Year : 1975
Label : Epic/Sony
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Minnie Riperton associated to the cream of L.A.'s Jazz Fusion Funk musicians featuring Larry Carlton & Joe Sample from The Crusaders, saxophonist Tom Scott and harpist Dorothy Ashby. Produced and arranged by Larry Carlton, "Adventures In Paradise" includes "Inside My Love" selected for the Jackie Brown's soundtrack by Tarantino. All tracks conducted by Larry Carlton, written by Minnie Riperton with his writing partner Richard Rudolph except tracks 1 to 2 & 7 with Leon Ware, "Love And Its Glory" with E.T. Brown & "Adventures In Paradise" with Joe Sample.

MUSICIANS : Minnie Riperton - vocal - Ed Brown - bass - Jim Gordon - drums, percussion - Larry Carlton & Dean Parks - guitar - Joe Sample - keyboards - Jim Horn & Tom Scott - saxophone - The Sid Sharp Strings - strings

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Funky DL - Blackcurrent Jazz

Year : 2001

Label : Washington Classics
Genre : Hip-Hop

Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Conscious

Naphta Newman is a british rapper, producer and owner of Whashington Classics label. He released his debut album "Classic Was The Day" in 1997 and recorded various songs with the japanese Hip-Hop producer Nujabes for Hyde Out Productions, bringing him to regularly tour in Japan thereafter. His influences include De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Gang Starr but also R&B artists, and performed opening acts for The Roots, Eminem or Destiny’s Child during their European tour. "Blackcurrent Jazz" is the meeting of Hip-Hop and Jazz with its interpolations, including the swing style, as evidenced the samples used by Newman in particular on "Confused?" or "Keeping It Classic". Titles include also featurings with Guile on "Wonderful", Sienna on "The Music") and "High Endurance" produced by DJ Parris. This album exists in enhanced edition including three bonus tracks especially released for Japan ("Turntables Hate Me", "It Still Rocks", "Long Remix").

The Monty Alexander 7 - Jamento

Year : 1978

Label : Pablo Records

Genre : Jazz, Reggae

Style : Fusion, Caribbean

A tribute to the Caribbean music combining Jazz, Reggae & Mento featuring probably the best jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin. Monty Alexander is a Jamaican pianist and melodica player influenced by Wynton Kelly, Art Tatum, Gene Harris and Ahmad Jamal. His piano improvisations reflect his admiration for the styles of Nat King Cole and Oscar Peterson. He went to New York in 1962, met and became friends with bassist Ray Brown and vibrationist Milt Jackson. In California, in 1965, he recorded his first album, Alexander the Great, for Pacific Jazz at the age of 21. In order to obtain the perfect fusion of american Jazz & Carribean Sound, Monty recruits several artists of the caribbean musical scene as Larry McDonald from Jamaica & Roger Bethelmy from Trinidad and the use of Steel drums. Titles include Slippery by Ray Brown, George Benson' Weekend in L.A., Sugar Loaf At Twilight  by Richard Evans & three original tracks by Monty. All tracks arranged & produced by Monty Alexander.

Monty Alexander_piano
Andy Simpkins_bass
Ernest Ranglin_guitar
Duffy Jackson & Roger Bethelmy_drums
Larry McDonald_percussion
Vince Charles_steel drums

01. Accompony
02. Slippery
03. Sugar Loaf at Twilight
04. Weekend in L.A.
05. Jamento
06. Mango Rengue

Minnie Riperton - Perfect Angel

Year : 1974
Label : Epic/Sony
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Second solo album by former member of Psychedelic Soul group, the Rotary Connection, including musical contributions of Stevie Wonder featuring Yvonne Wright & the legendary Sneaky Pete (the Hendrix of steel guitar) who played for Frank Zappa on "Waka/Jawaka" in 1972 and for John Lennon on "Mind Games" in 1973. Stevie Wonder is credited under the pseudonym of "El Toro Negro" and composed two songs for Minnie. Titles include pure Funk songs "Reasons", "Take A little Trip" and her hit single "Perfect Angel". All tracks written by Minnie Riperton & Richard Rudolph except "Take A Little Trip" & "Perfect Angel" by Stevie Wonder. Vocals arranged by Wonderlove, alias the Stevie Wonder's backing band and singing group.

MUSICIANS : Minnie Riperton - vocal - Stevie Wonder - electric piano, harmonica, drums, cymbals - Reggie McBride - bass - Marlo Henderson - guitar -  Michael Sembello - lead guitar - Ollie E. Brown - drums - Rocki Dzidzornu - congas

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Fat Jon As Maurice Galactica - Humanoid Erotica

Year : 2001

Label : Counterflow Recordings

Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop

Style : Downtempo, Trip-Hop

John Marshall aka Fat Jon (also known under various pseudonyms as "The Ample Soul"), is an American rap producer, DJ  and former member of Five Deez, an alternative Hip-Hop band from Cincinnati. Fat Jon is one prominent representative of the downtempo style alongside Nujabes, with whom he collaborated to the "Samurai Champloo" original soundtrack in 2003 (volumes "Impression" & "Departure". Released under the Maurice Galactica's name,"Humanoid Erotica" includes in particular the triptych "Triple Gold Daytons", the instrumental remix "Raindance" and the Hip-House track "Pretty Pussy Killy Kat" featuring Five Deez, all composed, produced and mixed by Fat Jon The Ample Soul Physician.

Okihiko Sugano - Session : Sounds By Okihiko Sugano

Year : 1972
Label : Yamaha
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contemporary Jazz, Post-Bop

First volume of three disc series dedicated to the Yamaha's keyboards (here accoustic piano), a project created by Okihiko Sugano (brother of pianist Kunihiko Sugano), a famous japanese sound engineer and jazz arranger. The "Session" is conducted by Okihiko Sugano featuring some renowned japanese musicians among Takeshi Inomata, Yuzuru Sera, Kazuo Yashiro or Hiroshi Okazaki plus american drummer Buffalo Bill Robinson. Titles include as well as New Orleans style (St. James Infirmary, My Ideal), Latin beat (A Dialogue Of Drums And Latin Percussion), Modal with free forms of rhythms (Miracle) & Cool Jazz (Stardust, Days Of Wine And Roses, That Old Feeling). All tracks arranged by Okihiko Sugano.

MUSICIANS : Yuzuru Sera & Kazuo Yashiro - piano - Harada Masanaga - bass - Jun Suzuki - electric bass - Hiroshi Okazaki - tenor & alto saxophone - Mitsui Akio - trumpet - Eiji Kitamura - clarinet - Ichiro Masuda - vibraphone - Buffalo Bill Robinson, Hiroshi Sunaga & Takeshi Inomata - drums

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Léo Tardin - Grand Pianoramax

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Year : 2005
Label : ObliqSound
Genre : Electronic, Jazz
Style : Future Jazz

"Grand Pianoramax" is an experimental project based on the piano/drums duet (bass line are played by keyboards), mixing Jazz with Electronic including drum'n'bass. Conceived by swiss pianist Léo Tardin who plays Fender Rhodes and minimoog, associated to Ferenc Nemeth & Jojo Mayer on drums, the band went on tour in the U.S. opening for Maceo Parker in 2008. Léo Tardin has also collaborated with Roy Ayers, The Last Poets, Erik Truffaz or Toots Thielemans. All tracks composed & arranged by Léo Tardin except "Starlite" with Michele Locatelli.

Marlena Shaw - From Dephts Of My Soul

Year : 1973
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz, Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

One of finest american Soul voice in Jazz, Marlena Shaw (real name Marlena Burgess) began to make singing appearances in various Jazz clubs, before be discovered by John Hammond (the talent scout such as Billie Holiday or Aretha Franklin) and to sign on Chess Records in 1966. After two albums recorded for Cadet (subsidiary of Chess), she joined Blue Note and released five records whose From Depths Of My Soul was the second. Recorded with arranger Wade Marcus, it features also renowned musicians such as Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Cornell Dupree & Hugh McCracken. The track list is based on a tasty blend of Soul & Jazz including funky grooves as Hum This Song, the single "Easy Evil" Wildflower and an original written by Marlena "Say A Good Word". Produced by George Butler, arranged by Wade Marcus.

Marlena Shaw_vocals
Ron Carter & Wilbur Bascomb_bass
Carl Lynch, Cornell Dupree, Gene Bertoncini & Hugh McCracken_guitar
Charles Collins, Grady Tate & Herbie Lovelle_drums
Derek Smith_keyboards
Arthur Jenkins_congas
George Devens_percussion
Gene Bianco_harp

01. Prelude / I Know I Love Him

02. Hum This Song
03. But For Now
04. Easy Evil
05. The Laughter And The Tears
06. The Feeling's Good
07. Wildflower
08. Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
09. Waterfall
10. Say A Good Word
11. Time For Me To Go

Think Twice - With A Loop And Some Swing

Year : 2007
Label : P-Vine
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Funk/Soul, Conscious

Debut album as a leader by the DJ producer/composer Phil Kennedy, member of canadian Hip-Hop band, SPECIFICS, best know under the name of Think Twice. He recruited for this project, SPECIFICS's partner, Golden Boy, and various rappers, whose some coming from the Hip-Hop underground scene of Montréal, featuring Manchilde from The Butta Babees, Shogun, Mr. Goodvibes, Loes, Lotus & Karma, Butta Beats from Nomadic Massive, Coates. Titles include Jazz & Soul samples, his single People Wanna Know, It's Too Late & Supafly from the same EP. Produced, mixed & recorded by Phil Kennedy.

01. Intro
02. People Wanna Know
03. Don't Mind At All
04. Stars
05. This Is Us
06. Whadodem
07. Fuck That
08. Watson Interlude
09. Freaky Ways
10. Supafly
11. Time's Passin Me By
12. Esto Es
13. It's Too Late
14. Coates Intro
15. The Accomplice

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Archie Bell & The Drells - I Can't Stop Dancing

Year : 1968
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

The Second album of Archie Bell and his fabulous The Drells produced by the legendary Soul songwriters duo, Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff. Recorded during the same sessions of their previous record "Tighten Up", this album keeps the same recipe, namely an alternating beautiful soulful songs and swinging Rhythm & Blues tracks, including cover songs from Curtis Mayfield (Monkey Time, I've Been Trying, Sometimes I Wonder), Otis Redding ((Sittin' on) The Dock Of The Bay), two original songs written by Gamble & Huff specially for them (I Can't Stop Dancing, Do The Choo Choo) and four originals written by Archie Bell.

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Dreams - Dreams

Year : 1970

Label : CBS

Genre : Jazz, Rock

Style : Jazz Rock, Folk Rock, Funk/Soul, Psychedelic

Dreams is a Jazz Rock group formed by the Brecker Brothers featuring Billy Cobham, Jeff Kent & Doug Lubahn (Barry Rodgers, Edward Vernon and special guest John Abercrombie from Mahavishnu Orchestra are added), who ended the band activities after their second & final album, Imagine My Surprise, released in 1971. Doug Lubahn is best known for his collaboration as studio bass player on Waiting For The Sun, Strange Days & The Soft Parade albums from legendary band The Doors. Miles Davis came listen the band during their live performance and recruited later Billy Cobham for his "Live Evil". Titles include their three singles Devil Lady/The Maryanne, 15 Miles To Provo & The Dream Suite. All tracks arranged by Dreams, produced by Dreams & Fred Weinberg.

Doug Lubahn_bass, vocals
Billy Cobham_drums, percussion
Jeff Kent_keyboards, guitar, vocals
John Abercrombie_lead guitar
Edward Vernon_lead vocal
Michael Brecker_tenor saxophone, flute
Barry Rodgers_trombone, tuba
Randy Brecker_trumpet, flugelhorn

01. Devil Lady
02. 15 Miles To Provo
03. The Maryanne
04. Holli Be Home
05. Try Me

06. Dream Suite

• Asset Stop
• Jane
• Crunchy Grenola

07. New York

Various - Samurai Champloo Music Record : Impression

Year : 2004
Label : Victor
Genre : Electronic, Hip Hop, Stage & Screen
Style : Hip Hop Jazz, Downtempo, Breakbeat, Funk/Soul

The last volume of Samurai Champloo Music Record collection which brings together all contributors of the original soundtrack except Tsutchie. Titles include the Hip-Hop song "STYLE" from episode 18, performed by FORCE OF NATURE featuring rappers Suiken & S-Word from Nitro Microphone Underground, and the ending theme from episode 12 "Who's Theme", with Nujabes featuring japanese R&B singer Minmi. All tracks produced by FORCE OF NATURE, Nujabes & Fat Jon.

• "Kodama (Interlude)" is a sample of "Trumpet Flower" by french composer Daniel Janin 
• tracks 1 to 7 recorded, mixed & arranged by FORCE OF NATURE
• tracks 8 to 16, 23 recorded, mixed & arranged by Nujabes
• tracks 17 to 22 recorded, mixed & arranged by Fat Jon
  

TRACKLIST : FORCE OF NATURE - Just Forget / Nightshift / FORCE OF NATURE Feat. S-Word & Suiken - 日出ズル STYLE / FORCE OF NATURE - The Stroll / Death Wish / Set It Off / The Million Way Of Drum / Nujabes - A Space In Air In Space In Air (Interlude) / Sanctuary Ship / Haiku (Interlude) / Tsurugi No Mai / Dead Season / Decade (Interlude) / World Without Words / Kodama (Interlude) / Silver Morning / Fat Jon - Bracelet / In Position / Night Out / Not Quite Seleah / Labyrinth Statistic / Here And There / Nujabes Feat. Minmi - Who's Theme

CYNE (Collection 1999-2003)

Year : 2003

Label : P-Vine/Bonatica Del Jibaro
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Abstract, Conscious

CYNE (for "Cultivating Your New Experience") is an american alternative and abstract Hip-Hop band from Florida, influenced by the meditations of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The band was formed by rappers Cise Star (who regularly collaborated with japanese producer Nujabes) and Akin, associated to the DJs Enoch and Speck. CYNE doesn't any musical borders, performing as well as in the trip-hop, electro-rock and jazzy hip-hop styles, including protest songs with political speech. Titles include unreleased songs, the singles "African Elephants/400 Years", "Midas" featuring DJ Infamous, and its remixes by Seth P. Brundel & Plex.

Jun Fukamachi - Introducing Jun Fukamachi

Year : 1975
Label : Toshiba
Serie : Pro Use Direct Cutting Series
Genre : Jazz, Electronic
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion, Space-Age

"Introducing Jun Fukamachi" is a jazz funk album that showcases the Moog synthesizer featuring Rei Ohara (eb), Kenji Omura (eg), Ponta Murakami (ds) & Motoya Hamaguchi (perc). Jun Fukamachi is a japanese Jazz Fusion pianist, composer and pioneer of the synthesizer play. Indeed, mostly known for his use of various keyboards, Jun produces a particular atmosphere which seems "straight out from the future", a mix of electronic sounds tinted by heavy funk and electro-disco, his major signature during the seventies. In the late seventies, he invited the Brecker Brothers plus others american Jazz Fusion renowned musicians such as Lee Ritenour, Steve Gadd or Dave Sandborn to collaborate with him on several iconic albums and lives. Titles include two variations on "Evening Star" from the Wagner's Tannhäuser opera, "La Fille Aux cheveux De Lin" of Claude Debussy, original compositions by Kenji Omura (the stunning "Bamboo Bong"), the killer funk "Noah's Ark" & "Perfidy" by Fukamachi. All tracks arranged & conducted by Jun Fukamachi.

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Ron Carter - Empire Jazz

Year : 1980
Label : RSO
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz

Revealed and recruited by Miles Davis for his second great quintet from 1963 to 1968, alongside Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams, Ron Carter has more than 2500 albums to his credit, recorded all over the world. Empire Jazz is the music adaptation of the Original Soundtrack from the Motion Pictures Star Wars & The Empire Strikes Back, composed by John Williams, and also his "most wanted" LP. Ron Carter is surrounded by various renowned CTI musicians among Billy Cobham, Hubert Laws, Bob James or Ralph MacDonald, all supported by the FOX fanfare. Titles include the most popular themes of Star Wars as the Darth Vader's theme or Love Theme, and a Bossa variation of The Asteroid Field with beautiful orchestration & the arrangements of Ron Carter.

Ron Carter_bass
Billy Cobham_drums
Jay Berliner_guitar
Hubert Laws_flute
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Bob James_piano
Frank Wess_saxophone
Eddie Bert_trombone
Joe Shepley & Jon Faddis_trumpet, flugelhorn

01. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)
02. The Asteroid Field
03. Han Solo & The Princess (Love Theme)
04. Lando's Palace
05. Yoda's Theme

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Nujabes, Fat Jon - Samurai Champloo Music Record : Departure

Year : 2004
Label : Victor
Genre :  Electronic, Hip Hop, Stage & Screen
Style : Hip-Hop Jazz, Downtempo

Volume 2 of the "Samurai Champloo Music Record" series which brings together several tracks produced by Nujabes and Fat Jon (Jon Marshall). Fat Jon is an American hip-hop producer from Cincinnati, former member of hip-hop band "Five Deez", in charge of numerous recordings under various names such as The Ample Soul Physician or Maurice Galactica. Titles include the opening theme ''Battlecry'' produced by Nujabes featuring japanese rapper Shing02, and the ending theme "Shiki No Uta", arranged by Nujabes featuring R&B songstress Minmi. All tracks produced, arranged, mixed by Nujabes (tracks 1 to 6, 17) and Fat Jon (7 to 16). 

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Yuji Ohno Trio - Mr. Happy-Gon

Year : 1971
Label : RCA
Serie : Modern Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Post Bop, Cool Jazz

"Mr. Happy-Gon" is the first solo album of iconic Japanese jazz pianist, Yuji Ohno featuring bassist Yoshio Ikeda & drummer Kazuyoshi Okayama, including jazz standards (the stunning "Alone Together") and originals (killer up-tempo "Mr Happy-Gon"). Yuji Ohno was mostly influenced by Burt Bacharach, Lalo Schifrin or Henri Mancini, he played as rookie musician at Keio University in the Jazz Club "Light Music Society" where he met pianists Masahiko Sato & Hiromasa Suzuki. He started as professional musician when he joined the jazz quintet of clarinetist Koji Fujika. In 1966, the legendary drummer Hideo Shiraki enrolled him in his quintet alongside Terumasa Hino & Kunimitsu Inaba, thereafter joined the Terumasa Hino Quartet in 1967, the Masahiko Togashi Quintet with Hiroshi Suzuki in 1969, and the Ryo Kawasaki Orchestra in 1970. During the seventies, Yuji Ohno became famous as film score composer ("Proof Of The Man"), soundtrack director of TV series ("Lupin The 3rd", "Captain Future", "Mad Police"), arranger/producer for various japanese songstress among Martha Miyake, Mieko Kaji, Eiko Shuri, Kimiko Kasai, Mieko Hirota, Hatsumi Shibata and the latin artists Sonia Rosa (Brazil), Graciela Susana (Argentina). Among his famous recordings are "Electro Keyboard Orchestra", "Sound Adventure Act.1" (amazing live performance feat. guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, from 1975), "As Well Be Spring" with Ann Young or the duet album "Silent Dialogue" with keyboardist Masa Masuda in 1979.

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Nujabes - Metaphorical Music

Year : 2003

Label : Dimid Recordings
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop, Jazz
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

Debut album of Nujabes including various collaborations featuring japanese and american alternative Hip-Hop artists, such as activist MC, Shing02 (best known for the opening "Battlecry" from the Samurai Champloo original soundtrack, produced by Nujabes), the multi-instrumentalist, Uyama Hiroto, Substantial, Pase Rock & Five Deez, Cise Starr from CYNE. Titles include also downtempo instrumentals (Horn In The Middle, Next View...), pure soulful hip-hop (Lady Brown, F.I.L.O....) and variation on the Samurai Champloo's ending theme "Beat Laments The World". All tracks produced, mixed & composed by Nujabes. 

TRACKLIST : Nujabes Feat. Substantial & Pase Rock - Blessing (It Remix) / Nujabes - Horn In The Middle / Nujabes Feat. Cise Starr - Lady Brown / Nujabes - Kumomi / Nujabes Feat. Cise Starr - Highs 2 Lows / Nujabes - Beat Laments The World / Nujabes - Letter From Yokosuka / Nujabes Feat. Substantial - Think Different / Nujabes - A Day By Atmosphere Supreme / Nujabes Feat. Uyama Hiroto - Next View / Nujabes Feat. Five Deez - Latitude Remix / Nujabes - Feat. Shing02 - F.I.L.O. / Nujabes - Summer Gypsy / Nujabes - The Final View / Nujabes - Peaceland

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TSUTCHIE - Samurai Champloo Music Record : Playlist

Year : 2004
Label : Victor
Genre : Electronic, Stage & Screen
Style : Downtempo, Breakbeat

Volume 3 of the Samurai Champloo Music Record series performed by DJ Tsutchie (real name Shinji Tsuchida). Tsutchie is a japapanese beatmaker, longtime friend of the director Shinichirō Watanabe, and member of the Hip-Hop band, Shakkazombie actives since 1993. Titles include only compositions from Tsutchie and the ending theme of episode 23, "FLY", featuring Azuma Riki from Small Circle Of Friends. All tracks composed, arranged & produced by Tsutchie.

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Eyedea & Abilities - First Born

Year : 2001
Label : Rhymsayers Entertainment
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Abstract, Jazzy Hip-Hop, Funk/Soul

Eyedea & Abilities is an american alternative/abstract Hip-Hop duo based in Minnesota influenced by Jazz & Soul artists. It feature Eyedea (Micheal Larsen), a MC who also performs under the name of Oliver Hart (for battle and freestyle skills) & DJ Abilities, best known for winning three DMC awards for his mixtapes and in group the 1200 Hobos. Titles include singles Blindly Firing, Before And After featuring Blueprint, tracks extracted from their two previous EPs Pushing Buttons, Architect's Theme & A Murder Of Memories. All tracks, productions, beats & cuts by DJ Abilities.

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Bob James - BJ 4

Year : 1977

Label : CTI

Genre : Jazz

Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The final chapter of the Bob James tetralogy and last volume of the four discs serie produced for CTI from 1974 to 1977. As the previous albums, the rhythm section is based on Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Gary King & Ralph MacDonald, including soloists Hubert Laws and Art Farmer, all supported by strings ensemble. Titles include original compositions by Bob James from Jazz Funk (Where The Wind Blows Free, Tappan Zee) to Smooth Jazz (Pure Imagination, Nights Are Forever Without You) with caribbean overtones (Treasure Island). All tracks arrranged by Bob James, produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King_bass
Steve Gadd_drums
Eric Gale_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Romeo Penque & Eddie Daniels_tenor saxophone & bass clarinet

01. Pure Imagination

02. Where The Wind Blows Free
03. Tappan Zee
04. Nights Are Forever Without You
05. Treasure Island
06. El Verano

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Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five With Friends - Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu

Year : 2007
Label : VAP
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

One of the finest Yuji Ohno productions from the last years, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the "Lupin The 3rd Part II" serie TV birth, in a 19th annual Lupin TV Special broadcast episode. Yuji Ohno & his young new group "Lupintic Five", formed in 2006, perform crossover jazz in the same approach as the CTI recordings from the seventies, including beautiful arrangements for strings, Funk/Soul elements (Opus 4, 5 & 8), Smooth Jazz (Iseka's Theme, Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu) and Cool Jazz (Opus 3, La Valse Froide). The band is also supported by various guests musicians featuring flutist Masami Nakagawa, former member of the Masahiko Togashi Quartet & the Gil Evans Orchestra, Kiyoshi Yoshida (synthesizer), Hajime Ueshiba (whistle), Tatuya Nishiwaki (harmonica) and J-Pop songstress Miki Imai on "Love Theme" song. 

LUPINTIC FIVE : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Satoshi Izumi - guitar - Masayuki Tawarayama - wood bass, electric bass - Keiji Matsushima - trumpet - Hisatsugu Suzuki - soprano & tenor sax - Yoshihito Eto - drums 

TRACKLIST :  Opus 1 - Iseka's Theme - Opus 2 - Theme From Lupin The Third 'Ice blue' Version - Opus 3 - Opus 4 - Opus 5 - Opus 6 - Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu - Opus 7 - La Valse Froide - Opus 8 - Opus 9 - Theme From Lupin III 'Elusive' Version  - Love Theme Feat. Miki Imai

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The Helpful Soul - First Album

Year : 1969
Label : Victor
Genre : Rock
Style : Blues Rock, Psychedelic rock

"Helpful Soul" is the first album of phenomenal japanese short-lived psychedelic rock band from Kobe, featuring the frontman bassist Charles Che, lead guitarist Gene Shoji, vocalist/guitarist Junio Nakahara & drummer Eiichi Tsukasa. The band started in 1965 as the "Young Beats" and recorded only one album and the Osamu Tezuka's animated movie "A Thousand & One Nights" soundtrack, before split-up during the summer of 1969. Charles Che was the pseudonym of famous Charlie Kosei, best known as original performer of the opening and ending themes from the Lupin III 1st serie (1971-1972). Titles incude original compositions by Helful Soul (Blues For My Baby, Peace For Fools) and blues & standards from Jimi Hendrix (Fire, You Got Me Floatin'), Willie Dixon (Spoonful) & Robert Johnson (Crossroads).

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Earth Wind And Fire (Self-Titled)

Year : 1970
Label : Warner
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Soul, Jazz Funk

The Psychedelic Soul debut album by one of most great funk band of all the time far from the Boogie-Funk sound which made them famous in the mid-seventies. Earth, Wind & Fire was formed in 1969 by Maurice White, a session drummer for Chess records and former member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, pianists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. The band left their mark in 1971, on the soundtrack of famous blaxploitation film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" starring & directed by Melvin Van Peebles. In 1974, the core of the band collabored to the Ramsey Lewis album "Sun Goddess" which contributes to their renown. Titles include the Latin Funk "Help Somebody", "C'mon Children", "Bad Tune" sampled by Brand Nubian for "Dance For My Ministry" in 1990 and DJ Shadow for "In/Flux" in 1993. All songs arranged by Earth, Wind & Fire, all songs written & composed Maurice White, Wade Flemons, Don Whitehead except "C'mon Children" & "Bad Tune" by Michael Beale/Verdine Adams .

MUSICIANS : Maurice White - drums, percussion, kalimba, vocals - Verdine Adams - bass - Michael Beale - guitar - Phillard Williams - percussion, congas - Don Whitehead - piano, electric piano - Chester Washington - reeds - Alex Thomas - trombone - Leslie Drayton - trumpet - Sherry Scott - vocals - Wade Flemons - vocals, electric piano

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Yusef Lateef's Detroit Latitude 42° 30' Longitude 83°

Year : 1969
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Legendary member of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet between 1962 to 1964, Yusef Lateef  was one of the american jazz greats, multi-instrumentalist who played as well all saxophones as various types of flute, orchestral instruments (oboe, bassoon) and clarinet. "Detroit" is the first Lateef's jazz incursion in the Soul music genre to the funk accents (Bishop School, Eastern Market). Lateef has recruited musicians accustomed to the style including rhythm section featuring Eric Gale, Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, Hugh Lawson, Chuck Rainey & Cecil McBee, all supported by brass & strings section featuring trumpeters Thad Jones & Jimmy Owens. From Hard Bop to the Soul Jazz style, titles include only compositions by Yusef Lateef except "That Lucky Old Sun" composed and written by Beasley Smith & Haven Gillepsie.

Yusef Lateef _flute & tenor saxophone

Hugh Lawson_piano

Cecil McBee_bass

Chuck Rainey_electric bass

Eric Gale_guitar

Bernard Purdie_drums

Albert "Tootie" Heath_percussion

Norman Pride & Ray Barreto_congas

01. Bishop School

02. Livingston Playground

03. Eastern Market

04. Belle Isle

05. Russel & Eliot

06. Raymond Winchester

07. Woodward Avenue

08. That Lucky Old Sun

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Various - Cowboy Bebop Remixes : Music For Freelance

Year : 1999

Label : Victor

Genre : Electronic

Style : Trip-Hop, Breakbeat, Downtempo

Tribute to the famous "Cowboy Bebop Original Soundtrack" originally composed by Yoko Kanno and performed by The Seatbelts, remixed by popular British & American DJs from legendary Trip-Hop labels among MO WAX (Luke Vibert) and NINJA TUNE (Mr Scruff, DJ Vadim). "Music For Freelance" is a concept album based on a fictional pirate radio station broadcasted on the space waves from Cowboy Bebop universe in 2071, introduced humorously by the mysterious radio host Peter Duimstra, including jingles mixed by MC Yota from Oxygen Funk. Titles include remixes of opening song "Tank!" by Luke Vibert, ending theme from session 13 (Jupiter Jazz Part 2) "Space Lion", "Cats On Mars" performed by Gabriela Robin (aka Yoko Kanno), "Fantaisie Sign" by Carla Vallet and regular songs of the Cowboy Bebop soundscape.

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TRACKLIST : Luke Vibert - Tank! by The Seatbelts (Luke Vibert Remix) / Fila Brazilia - Forever Broke by The Seatbelts (Fila Brazilia Remix) / DMX Krew - Cats On Mars by Gabriela Robin (DMX Krew Remix) / Ian Obrien - Piano Black by The Seatbelts (Ian Obrien Remix) / Mr Scruff - Cat Blues by The Seatbelts (Mr Scruff Remix) / DJ Vadim - Fe by The Seatbelts (DJ Vadim Remix) / Ian Pooley - Fantaisie Sign by Carla Vallet (Ian Pooley Remix) / 4 Hero - Space Lion by The Seatbelts (4 Hero Remix)

Nujabes, Various - Hyde Out Productions - First Collection

Year : 2003

Label : Hyde Out Recordings

Genre : Hip-Hop, Electronic

Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

Jun Seba aka Nujabes is a japanese hip-hop producer, beatmaker and DJ, owner of independant label Hyde-Out Recordings. Mostly influenced by the Cool Jazz of Miles Davis or various works from Yusef Lateef, Nujabes performs downtempo, a blend of Jazz with electronic overtones. He produced various american, japanese and european rappers from the alternative Hip-Hop scene  including Five Deez, Substantial or his fellow countryman, Shing02. In 2002, he was recruited to collaborate in the development of the Samurai Champloo soundscape among others Fat Jon, Tsutchie & FORCE OF NATURE. This compilation showcases the Nujabes' touch productions, combining Hip-Hop & Future Jazz including instrumentals tracks by Nujabes, several of his productions, remixes by Fat Jon & Monorisick plus collaborations with rappers L-Universe, Substantial, Apani B, Funky DL, Pase Rock from Five Deez, Cise Star from CYNE & Shing02. All tracks produced & mixed by Nujabes except "It's About Time" by Fat Jon The Ample Soul Physician.

TRACKLIST : Nujabes - Moon Strut (Intro) / Funky DL Feat. Monorisick - Don't Even Try It / Apani B. Fly Emcee - Strive / Substantial - Home Sweet Home / Nujabes - Still Talking To You / Shing02 - Luv (Sic) Feat. DJ Top Bill / Nujabes - Steadfast / Substantial & L-Universe - Lyrical Terrorists / L-Universe - Lose My Religion (Remix) / Pase Rock - It's About Time (Fat Jon Remix) / Five Deez - Plazma Avenue (Remix) / Cise Star Feat. El-Orbit - D.T.F.N. / Funky DL Feat. Monorisick - People's Don't Stray / Shing02 Feat. DJ Dai Nasty- Luv (Sic) Pt. 2. 

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Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up

Year : 1968
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Debut album of Archie Bell & The Drells supported by the Atlantic session musicians including their Billaboard number-one single "Tighten Up". The Drells is a Soul vocal band formed in 1966 in Houston, Texas, led by Archie Bell surrounded by James Wise, Willie Parnell & Billy Butler. In 1968, they sign on Atlantic Records which brings them the writing star duo Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff for their second album "I Can't Stop Dancing". During a decade they released seven albums whose three for Atlantic before to split in 1979. Titles include the two Soul Stax Records classics, "Knock On Wood" (Eddie Floyd), "In the Midnight Hour" (Wilson Pickett) and original compositions written by Archie Bell (When You Left Heartache Began, A Soldier's Prayer, 1967).

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Bob James - Three

  
Year : 1976
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The penultimate Bob James album coming from the famous Smooth Jazz tetralogy "One, Two, Three & BJ 4" featuring guest musician saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.. "Three" crosses various musical jazz styles ranging from Funk (Storm King) to Smooth Jazz, passing by caribbean overtones including reggae tunes (Women Of Ireland, Jamaica Farewell). The Bob James line-up consists of his usual rhythm section based on Gary King, Harvey Mason, Eric Gale and session musicians such as drummer Andy Newmark & guitarist Jeff Mironov (added on "One Mint Julep"), all supported by horns section & strings ensemble. All tracks arranged & conducted by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King & Will Lee_bass
Harvey Mason_drums
Eric Gale & Hugh McCracken_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Grover Washington Jr. & Tin Whistle_tenor saxophone
Hubert Laws & Jerry Dodgion_flute

01. One Mint Julep 

02. Women Of Ireland

03. Westchester Lady

04. Storm King

05. Jamaica Farewell

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Airto Moreira - Free

Year : 1972

Label : CTI

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Samba, Modal

First of four discs serie recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder for the famous Creed Taylor's CTI label by brazilian percussionist, Airto Moreira, former member of jazz fusion group "Return To Forever". Airto was a sought-after artist among the Creed Taylor's session musicians, he played with others latin artists such as Hermeto Pascoal, Eumir Deodato or Gato Barbieri, cantor of Free Jazz, but also jazz legend Freddie Hubbard. The line-up is based on the "Return To Forever" band featuring leader Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell, Airto's wife Flora Purim, including others remarkable soloists such as George Benson, Hubert Laws & Keith Jarrett, all conducted by Don Sebesky. Titles include the tribute "Return To Forever" by Chick Corea, the "Flora's 'Purim' Song", the percussion suite "Free", "Lucky Southern" by Keith Jarrett and the jazz samba, "Creek (Arroio)" composed by Victor Brazil

Bob James - Two

Year : 1975
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

Volume 2 of the Bob James' jazz funk tetralogy featuring CTI All-Stars musicians and special guests, songstress Patti Austin, bassist Gary King, drummer Steve Gadd & flutist Hubert Laws. As the previous "One", the formation is supported by strings ensemble and horns section including trumpeter Randy Brecker. Titles include  "Take Me To The Mardi Gras", one of the most widely used tracks in Hip-Hop breakbeat samples (N.W.A., Beastie Boys, Run-DMC), "I Feel A Song" featuring Patti Austin and variation on "Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2)" taken from classical french composition by George Bizet. All tracks conducted & arranged by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

MUSICIANS : Bob James - keyboards / Eric Gale - guitar & bass / Richie Resnicoff - guitar /

Andrew Smith - drums / Arthur Jenkins & Ralph McDonald - percussions / Randy Brecker - trumpet / Gary King - bass / Steve Gadd - drums / Hubert Laws - flute

TRACKLIST : Bob James - Take Me To The Mardi Gras / Bob James Feat. Patti Austin - I Feel A Song / Bob James Feat. Steve Gadd & Gary King - The Golden Apple / Bob James Feat. Hubert Laws - Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2) / Bob James - You're Right As Rain - Dream Journey

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Ann Young & Yuji Ohno Trio - As Well Be Spring

Year : 1975
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Cool Jazz, Contempory Jazz

The only one leader album knew nowadays of jazz songstress Ann Young supported by the Yuji Ohno Trio featuring Yuji Ohno (p, el-p), Yoshio Ikeda (b) & Kazuyoshi Okayama (ds). This beautiful american voice to the soulful expressions, between Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson, came out in the spotlight thanks to Yuji Ohno, is virtually unknown outside Japan where she was a club singer and former vocalist for japanese pianist Masao Yagi. Ann Young sings the popular songs from the forties and the fifties including a killer version of "Speak Low" with Latin breaks and others jazz standards popularized by the great ladies of jazz among Sarah Vaughan ("It Might as Well Be Spring", 1949, "Old Devil Moon", 1954), Billy Holliday ("Don't Explain" 1944, "There Is No Greater Love" 1947) or Peggy Lee ("I Only Have Eyes For You" 1947). All tracks arranged by Yuji Ohno.

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Nitro Microphone Underground - Nitro Microphone Underground

Year : 2000/1999
Label : Reality Records/Def Jam Japan
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Funk/Soul, Hip-Hop Soul

Often compared to the "Wu-Tang Clan", Nitro Microphone Underground is a japanese Hip-Hop collective formed in 1997 featuring eight MCs including Bigzam, Dabo, Deli, Gore-Tex, Macka-Chin, S-Word, Suiken & XBS. S-Word & Suiken took part to the Samourai Champloo original soundtrack with "出ズル STYLE" supported by the DJs duo FORCE OF NATURE. Debut album "Nitro Microphone Underground" was originally released on the japanese label Reality Records before to be issued by Def Jam Japan, making of the crew the first japanese Hip-Hop band to sign on the label. The album brings together studio and live recordings including the singles "Bambu" & "Live '99".

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Bob James - One

Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

First of a four serie albums recorded for CTI  between 1974-1977, by american jazz pianist and arranger Bob James, proclaimed as the "Godfather" of the Smooth Jazz. Bob James plays with a large ensemble of musicians featuring Gary King, Idris Muhammad & Grover Washington Jr., all supported by a strings section. After a period as sideman for Sarah Vaughan from 1965 to 1968, he become one of favorites studio musicians for the Creed Taylor's new label, CTI. During the decade 1970, he played a major role in turning Jazz into Jazz Funk as producer and arranger. With "One", Bob James revisits great works of classical music, the Mussorgsky's "Night On Bald Mountain" & "In The Garden" based on "Canon In D" by Pachelbel. Others titles include original compositions by Bob James, "Valley Of The Shadow", "Soulero" featuring guest saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and "Nautilus" (sampled by Run-D.M.C. on "Beats to the Rhyme" & Ghostface Killah on "Daytona 500"). Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder studio, arranged & conducted by Bob James.

Bob James_keyboards

Gary King_bass

Richie Resnicoff_guitar

Idris Muhammad & Steve Gadd_drums

Ralph McDonald_percussion
Grover Whashington Jr._soprano saxophone

01. Valley Of The Shadows                        

02. In The Garden

03. Soulero

04. Night On Bald Mountain

05. Feel Like Making Love

06. Nautilus

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Ben & The Platano Group - Paris Soul

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Year : 1971
Label : Barclay
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Jazz Rock, Afro-Cuban Jazz

Ben & The Platano Group consists in the meeting of various musicians who were active in the parisian nights during the seventies, including ''Le Lido'' cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. Composed with collaboration of Manuel Itturia and arranged by Roger Lecussant, who presents himself as Evaristo Nata, "Paris Soul" is conducted by percussionist & leader Ben Ahmed Zouber. The Platano Group distills a blend of Afro-Cuban flavors, Brazilian rhythms & Latin Funk, played in the purest style of Mongo Santamaria and Candido Camero, including titles from Paris Soul 45rpm "Paris Soul/Cabaret" (1971), Afro-Cuban killer tunes "Salute Tu Santa" & "Art Pino Pasta".

TSUTCHIE/FORCE OF NATURE - Samurai Champloo Music Record : Masta

Year : 2004
Label : Victor
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop, Stage & Screen
Style : Downtempo, Breakbeat, Jazzy Hip-Hop

"Samurai Champloo" is an animated serie directed by Shin'ichirō Watanabe (also in charge of Cowboy BeBop serie), broadcast on Fuji TV in 2004. A four discs serie was released in 2004, produced and recorded by japanese DJs Nujabes, FORCE OF NATURE, TSUTCHIE and american producer Fat Jon. The "MASTA" volume was directed by the breakbeat duo "FORCE OF NATURE" and TSUTCHIE, member of Japanese Hip-Hop band Shakkazombie, including three regular themes used in the serie (Numbernine [Back in TYO], Raw Material, Pretending To...) and the special ending theme of episode 17, "YOU" featuring R&B songstress Kazami.

FORCE OF NATURE [SAMPLE]

TSUTCHIE [SAMPLE]