Ice -

Ice was a Paris-based American funk band that made three albums (1973–75) on Kedzie/Musidisc and two further titles (both 1977) on RCA. They evolved from the Bobby Boyd Congress and also recorded as Captain Dax, Crispy & Co., and the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

Background

Ice formed in 1970 as the Bobby Boyd Congress, a Long Island funk band that moved to France for market distinction. Boyd’s band featured guitarist Larry Jones, bassist Lafayette Hudson, keyboardist Frank Abel, drummer Ernest “Donny” Donable, and percussionists Keno Speller and Arthur Young, who doubled on horns along with Ronnie James Buttacavoli.

After one album, Boyd returned to the US while the others stayed in Paris, where they absorbed the double-step rhythms played by North African migrants in the city’s Barbès district. They briefly gigged as Soul Congress but settled on Ice. Their act impressed local producer Pierre Jaubert, who owned Parisound Studio.

Each Man Makes His Destiny

Ice released their first album, Each Man Makes His Destiny, in 1973 on Kedzie Music.

The album blends funk with extended instrumental interplay, balancing thick rhythm layers with brass voicings, fuzz guitar, and electric piano textures.

Guitarist Larry Jones wrote “Too Little Room” and “Losin’.” Keyboardist Frank Abel composed “Suicide” and co-wrote “There’s Time to Change” and “Put an X on the Spot (In the Sky)” with drummer Donny Donable. Donable also co-wrote “One Chance” with bassist Lafayette Hudson and trumpeter Arthur Young. Young wrote “Love Can” and co-wrote “There’s Time to Change” with Abel, while Young, Abel, and Ronnie James co-wrote “Dgunji.”

The album opens with the taut pacing of “Too Little Room” and the organ-led “Suicide.” “There’s Time to Change” stretches across nine minutes with alternating passages of brass, keyboards, and percussion. “One Chance” and “Put an X on the Spot (In the Sky)” tighten the focus with brisk rhythmic figures, while “Losin’” and “Love Can” keep to shorter, vocal-driven formats. “Dgunji” closes the set with layered percussion and sharp horn accents.

A1. “Too Little Room” (5:30)
A2. “Suicide” (5:24)
A3. “One Chance” (3:15)
A4. “Love Can” (2:35)

B1. “There’s Time to Change” (9:11)
B2. “Put an X on the Spot (In the Sky)” (3:00)
B3. “Losin’” (2:18)
B4. “Dgunji” (2:29)

Sessions occurred at Le Château d’Hérouville near Paris with producer Pierre Berjot and engineer Andy Scott.

Each Man Makes His Destiny sports explosive, colorful sleeve illustrations by French comic artist Christian Goux. In 1974, the album appeared in the US on the legendary Prestige jazz label. Prestige copies (titled simply Ice) replace Goux’s art with an image of an ice machine on an arctic flat plain.

Soon after Each Man Makes His Destiny, Ice recorded Soul Makossa, their first of two albums as the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

Afro Agban (The Afro-Instrumental LP)

Ice released their first album, Afro Agban (The Afro-Instrumental LP), in 1974 on Musidisc.

The album balances extended, rhythm-heavy workouts with brass-driven passages and layered percussion. It highlights Ice’s blend of Afro-jazz textures and funk arrangements within a tight ensemble setting.

Trumpeter Jean Paul Guilbert wrote three numbers, “Oda Mimian,” “Ozan Koukle,” and “Alow Aton.” Guitarist Larry Jones contributed “Afon.” Bassist Lafayette Hudson supplied “Afro-Love.” Keyboardist Frank Abel wrote “Sikiliza,” while trumpeter Arthur Young closed the set with “Racubah.”

“Oda Mimian” and “Ozan Koukle” stretch out with interlocking percussion and trumpet-led themes, while “Afro-Love” and “Sikiliza” move at brisk pace with sharper rhythmic turns. “Racubah” ends the album on a condensed, chant-like figure.

A1. “Oda Mimian” [Ode to Mimian] (5:33)
A2. “Ozan Koukle” [Little Puppet] (5:33)
A3. “Afon” [River] (5:52)

B1. “Alow Aton” [Sacred Flame] (4:21)
B2. “Afro-Love” (5:13)
B3. “Sikiliza” [Listen] (3:58)
B4. “Racubah” [Dance of Unity] (3:15)

Sessions took place in France with producer Pierre Berjot. Afro Agban features photography by Ivy Ney.

Soon after, Ice recorded Malik, their second album as the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

Frisco Disco

Ice released their third album, Frisco Disco, in 1975 on Kedzie Music. Prestige Records retitled the album Import / Export for the US market.

The album emphasizes compact funk workouts with layered percussion, brass interplay, and keyboard textures. Its concise format contrasts with the extended pieces on their later work.

Trumpeter Arthur Young wrote three tracks: “Hi Fi Woman,” “Funky Lovin’,” and “Funky Bunch.” Trumpeter Ronnie James contributed “Don’t Wonder Why” and co-wrote “Quick” with guitarist Larry Jones. Bassist Lafayette Hudson wrote “Hey Angel Girl.” Drummer Ernest Donable provided “The Gap.” Keyboardist Frank Abel composed “Passing Dreams” and “I Need Love.” Percussionist Keno Speller wrote “What Cha Gonna Do About Loving Me.”

“Hi Fi Woman” and “Funky Lovin’” deliver clipped horn refrains, while “Quick” runs on tight exchanges between trumpet and guitar. Abel’s “Passing Dreams” and “I Need Love” move on sharper rhythmic turns with electric piano accents. The album closes with Young’s “Funky Bunch,” which tightens the ensemble around a unison brass theme.

A1. “Hi Fi Woman” (2:52)
A2. “Don’t Wonder Why” (3:17)
A3. “Funky Lovin’” (3:17)
A4. “Quick” (3:07)
A5. “Hey Angel Girl” (3:52)

B1. “The Gap” (2:56)
B2. “Passing Dreams” (3:54)
B3. “What Cha Gonna Do About Loving Me” (3:06)
B4. “I Need Love” (3:05)
B5. “Funky Bunch” (2:51)

Sessions took place at Parisound Studio with producer Pierre Berjot and engineer Pierre Charbaud.

Around this time, Ice masqueraded as Crispy & Co. (aka Krispie and Company) on four 1975/76 singles and the undated album Funky Flavored.

Seven Americans In Paris

Ice released their fourth album, Seven Americans In Paris, in 1977 on RCA Victor.

The album balances taut funk rhythms with atmospheric keyboard passages and expanded horn voicings. It closes with a three-part Louisiana-inspired suite that blends ensemble interplay with impressionistic flourishes.

Trumpeter Arthur Young wrote “Hard Times,” “People,” and “Time in Space” and co-wrote “Passion” with guitarist Larry Jones. Pianist Frank Abel produced and arranged “Autumn Leaves.” The three-part “Louisiane Suite” was composed by Jean Paul Guilbert. The band also covers “The Fez” by Steely Dan (Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Paul Griffin).

“Hard Times” opens with clipped brass stabs over an insistent bass line, while “Passion” layers angular keyboard chords against shifting rhythms. The Steely Dan cover, “The Fez,” is played in condensed form with a brighter pace. The closing suite moves through three moods: “Découverte” with tense horn voicings, “Vieux Carré” with syncopated percussion, and “Evangeline” with lyrical trumpet lines.

A1. “Hard Times” (4:20)
A2. “Passion” (5:10)
A3. “The Fez” (2:50)
A4. “Autumn Leaves” (3:20)

B1. “People” (3:10)
B2. “Time in Space” (3:30)
B3. “Louisiane Suite: Découverte” (4:12)
B4. “Louisiane Suite: Vieux Carré” (4:40)
B5. “Louisiane Suite: Evangeline” (4:25)

Sessions occurred in Paris with production divided between Arthur Young, Frank Abel, Pierre Jaubert, and Vincent Holmes.

Thumpin’

Ice released their fifth and final album, the two-record Thumpin’, in 1977 on RCA Victor. It features one record of new material paired with a reissue of Each Man Makes His Destiny.

The new material blends compact funk workouts with atmospheric keyboard-led pieces and extended rhythm numbers. The second record preserves their 1973 debut in its entirety, underscoring their shift from Afro-influenced textures to tightened ensemble interplay.

Percussionist Keno Speller wrote the title track. Bassist Lafayette Hudson penned “Parisound.” Guitarist Larry Jones co-wrote “M. F. Grayson” with trumpeter Ronnie Buttacavoli and arranged “Jungle Janes.” Buttacavoli also arranged and wrote “Heels and Soles.” Keyboardist Frank Abel contributed “Scorpion Flower” and arranged much of the album’s new material. Trumpeter Arthur Young wrote “Funky Lovin’” and co-wrote several tracks on the reissued second record with Abel, Jones, Donny Donable, Hudson, and Buttacavoli. Saxophonist Leroy Gomes authored “Down in St. Tropez.”

The opening sequence contrasts Speller’s clipped, percussive “Thumpin’” with Hudson’s six-minute “Parisound,” where bass lines thread through phased keyboards. “M. F. Grayson” alternates between Jones’ guitar riffs and Buttacavoli’s horn themes, while “Down in St. Tropez” sets a mid-tempo pace around layered brass. Abel’s “Scorpion Flower” stretches across six minutes with angular organ lines. Jones’ “Jungle Janes” pushes a driving rhythm, and Young’s “Funky Lovin’” closes the new set with brassy syncopation.

A1. “Thumpin’” (3:25)
A2. “Parisound” (6:00)
A3. “M. F. Grayson” (4:35)
A4. “Down in St. Tropez” (4:16)

B1. “Scorpion Flower” (6:30)
B2. “Heels and Soles” (4:35)
B3. “Jungle Janes” (5:25)
B4. “Funky Lovin’” (4:50)

Sessions occurred in Paris with production and arrangements handled by Frank Abel, Arthur Young, Larry Jones, Ronnie Buttacavoli, and Keno Speller.

The gatefold sleeve features front and inside photography by I.H.P., with back-sleeve artwork by Jean Mortemard de Boisse.

Discography: