Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Moody brilliance from pianist Mike Nock – a solid quartet date that features plenty of edgey tenor from Michael Brecker, who's in really great form throughout! The rhythm section has a nicely snakey vibe too – with George Mraz on bass and Al Foster on drums – and both players can come on strong when Mike needs them to, then lay back into some warmer, lyrical modes that really show Nock's melodic development at this point in his career. The highlight of this recording is Brecker's soulful tenor sax solos, some of his finest playing ever. The piano is acoustic throughout – and titles include "Break Time", "Dark Light", "Shadows Of Forgotten Love", "Hadrian's Wall", and "The Gift".
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band is a pioneering American soul and funk band. Formed in the early 1960s, they had the most visibility from 1967 to 1973 when the band had 9 singles reach Billboard's pop and/or rhythm and blues charts, such as "Do Your Thing" (#11 Pop, #12 R&B), "Till You Get Enough" (#12 R&B, #67 Pop), and "Love Land" (R&B #23, Pop #16). They are best known for their biggest hit on Warner Bros. Records, 1970's "Express Yourself" (#3 R&B, #12 Pop), a song that has been sampled by rap group N.W.A and others. The original line-up comprised of bandleader Charles Wright (vocals, guitar, piano), Al McKay (guitar), Gabe Flemings (piano, trumpet), Melvin Dunlap (bass), James Gadson (drums), John Rayford and Bill Cannon (both sax), and Ray Jackson (trombone). McKay left in 1969 to join Earth, Wind & Fire and was replaced by Benorce Blackmon.