When jazz vocalist Freddy Cole sings, it's with a built-in groove that's unshakeable, with warm, honeyed tones that wrap the lyrics in velvet and set them down firmly in the pocket. Cole has one great little album here; if you thought it was impossible to produce a modern-day jazz vocal album that's not infused with endless oodles-of-noodles riffing that shows you nothing except the ability of the vocalist to sing everything but the melody, be prepared for greatness. With a small combo led by pianist Cedar Walton and tenor saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr., Cole has a backdrop that never gets in the way of his magic nor does anything that doesn't help the song. Timber-wise, he owes a lot of his phrasing to his older brother, Nat "King" Cole, and Francis Albert Sinatra, but Freddy ultimately remains his own man and that's what makes this album such a success. Ten or 12 stars, at least.
This album is one of the reasons that Idris Muhammad is regarded as the drumming king of groove. Featuring the arrangements and keyboards of Bob James, the saxophone punch of Grover Washington, Jr., guitarist Joe Beck, trumpeter Randy Brecker, percussionist Ralph MacDonald, and the knife-edge slick production of Creed Taylor, this 1974 issue is a burning piece of deep, jazzy soul and grooved-out bliss…
Over 2 hours of the smoothest soul from the 60s, 70s and 80s on 2 CDs featuring tracks by classic soul artists such as Luther Vandross, The Isley Brothers, Isaac Hayes, Fat Larry’s Band, The Chi-lites, Jackie Wilson and many more.
Soul Sessions takes us on a journey through the deepest soul cuts of the last 30 years. From the loved-up sixties stomp of Jackie Wilson’s ‘Sweetest Feeling’ through the blissed-out harmonies of The Chi-lites ‘Have You Seen Her’ to the smooth sensuality of eighties heart throb Luther Vandross. Soul Sessions offers enough soul food to satisfy the hungriest of lovers. So whatcha waiting for…get it on!
VOLUME 7 carries on the Real Side tradition of collating classic crossover soul, rare original 45s, new-to-CD nuggets and oddities from the infinitely strange world of Northern Soul.
Reissue with the latest DSD remastering. Comes with liner notes. 2016 reissue of this live album, recorded in July 1980 at the legendary venue the Budokan in Japan over two nights. The album features a who's who of Jazz Fusion musicians including Richard Tee, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Ralph MacDonald, Anthony Jackson, Jeff Mironov and Dave Grusin. Grusin also arranged and conducted the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra on these two magical nights. How's Everything contains versions of the Sadao Watanabe classics 'Up Country' and 'Nice Shot'. a positively must-have CD for all Jazz Fusion fans. Robinsongs.
Smooth Jazz versions of Marvin Gaye favorites: Let’s Get It On, Sęxual Healing, Mercy Mercy Me, Inner City Blues and more!