Funk Piano

James Brown - Bodyheat (1976) {2014 Japan Rare Groove Funk Best Collection 1000 UICY-76591}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 269 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 88 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2014 Polydor / Universal Music Japan | UICY-76591
Funk / R'n'B / Soul / Funky Jam

'BODYHEAT' was originally released in December 1976 as Polydor-1-6093 in a striking jacket illustrated by Virginia Team. The title cut's single release was his last highest charting single (#13 R&B) until "Living In America" in 1985 (#4 Pop, #10 R&B). A clavinet based funk-er, it features a steadier beat somewhere between his usual funk and straight disco. In fact the back cover of the album announced "James Brown - Brand New Sound." Surprisingly, the rest of the original album's Side One consisted of two ballads, the almost four years stale "It's A Man's, Man's World" retread "Woman," and the much better "Kiss In '77" which deserved more than it's #35 R&B showing. Brown seemed to favor the atypically restrained ballad, featuring it in his concerts for years after it's release.

Life and Times is the highly anticipated follow up to the smooth jazz super chart topping More Serious Business - which included two #1 smooth jazz radio hit singles! Featuring three of the most important hit makers on the scene today: Jeff Lorber, Everett Harp and Paul Jackson, Jr. - artists and producers responsible for selling millions of albums and scoring close to 50 #1 Smooth Jazz radio hits! Highlights include the hit single, "Ready Freddie," the super funky, "Where You're At," the high-spirited romp "Exotic" and much more!

The nine sides on Unk in Funk (1974) are among the last newly recorded material that Muddy Waters (vocals/guitar) would issue during his nearly 30 year association with Chess Records. Backing up the Chicago blues icon is a band he'd carry with him for the remainder of his performing career, including Pinetop Perkins (piano), Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson (guitar), Bob Margolin (guitar), Calvin "Fuzz" Jones (bass), and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (drums). They run through a better than average selection of Waters' classics with newer compositions more or less tossed in, presumably to keep the track list fresh.

Herbie Hancock - Flood. Live In Japan (1975) {2006 DSD Japan Edition, SICP 967}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 460 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 176 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 19 Mb
© 2006 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICP 967
Jazz / Fusion / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Piano

Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters take to the road in the live double album Flood, recorded and released only in Japan. Contrary to the impression left by his American releases at this time, Hancock was still very much attached to the acoustic piano, as his erudite opening workout on "Maiden Voyage/Actual Proof" with his funk rhythm section makes clear. The electric keyboards, mostly Rhodes piano and clavinet, make their first appearances on side two, where Hancock now becomes more of a funky adjunct to the rhythm section, bumping along with a superb feeling for the groove while Bennie Maupin takes the high road above on a panoply of winds.

Joe Castro - Groove Funk Soul (1960) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27264}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 209 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 88 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 25 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1960, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27264
Jazz / Bop / Soul Jazz / Piano

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. On this inspired release, world renowned pianist Joe Castro is joined by Teddy Edwards, Leroy Vinnegar and Billy Higgins. This soul-jazz recording features the standouts “Groove Funk Soul,” “That’s All,” “Yesterdays” and “Play Me The Blues.”