Ghetto Wc

Willie James Lyons (1938-1980) was born in a family of musicians in Alabama but came very young to Chicago, started playing guitar at the age of 7 and played professional at 14! This album is the first that he has recorded. He was very personal musiscian, an exceptional creator with inventive ideas, with phrases full of lyrism and feeling. His beautiful warm and pure tone allows one to identify him from the first notes. Great soloist and accompanist….

The Crusaders really came into their own in the 70's with their own blend of jazz, funk and pop, culminating with their smash hit 'Street Life' in '79. The opening "Dead End",a fine funk jazz romp through everything this band does best! And Leon Ndugu Chancler's choice to leave George Duke's band for the Crusaders added alot of excitment to the mix so how could this. This album is highly recommended for the electro-funk fans.

Following the success of his other albums on Naim Label, Antonio Forcione has teamed up with the world famous rhythm section of Trilok Gurtu on percussion, and Kai Eckhardt on bass to produce an album that will certainly elevate his international standing further still. Trilok and Kai have previously worked with a host of celebrated musicians including Neneh Cherry, Martin Taylor, Pat Metheny, and John McLaughlin. All tracks on this recording were written and arranged by Antonio, providing a glowing testimonial to his abilities as a composer, and demonstrating that his considerable musical talent continues to develop.

The central thread linking all the works featured in this recording is their assimilation of various elements of Jewish music, whether directly stemming from Chassidic folk traditions, or relating to material directly associated with religious worship. Each composer responds to this music in different ways, attempting in varying degrees to integrate it within the structural conventions of a Western European musical mainstream. By doing so, the music projects a multitude of emotions and feelings.