Ju-Par Universal Orchestra -

Ju-Par Universal Orchestra was an American jazz-funk/soul studio ensemble that recorded for Detroit label Ju-Par Records Ltd. The group released the singular album Moods & Grooves in 1976, followed by a Motown-distributed edition and the charting single “Funky Music.”

Members: Dick Boyell (keyboards), Quinton Joseph (drums), Louis Satterfield (bass), Phil Upchurch (guitar), Derf Walker (percussion), Art Hayle (trumpet), Murray Watson (trumpet), Ken Soderdlom (saxophone), Ralph Craig (trombone), Rich Rudoll (flute), Bonnie Herman (vocals), Kitty Haywood (vocals), Vivian Haywood (vocals)

Background

Ju-Par Universal Orchestra originated as a Chicago studio group assembled by keyboardist-arranger Dick Boyell and producer Bruce Swedien. Boyell previously played with David Carroll’s Mercury orchestra, while guitarist Phil Upchurch came from Chicago’s Chess studio network and a 1975 Kudu album with Tennyson Stephens. Bassist Louis Satterfield and percussionist Fred Walker, later known as Derf Reklaw, previously worked together in the Pharaohs.

Detroit entrepreneurs John “Juney” Garrett and Richard Parker founded Ju-Par Records in 1976, operated the label from West Eight Mile Road, and assigned the ensemble the first LP catalog number.

Moods & Grooves

Ju-Par Universal Orchestra released their singular album, Moods & Grooves, in 1976 on Ju-Par Records Ltd.

Dick Boyell’s arrangements pair electric keyboard and a compact rhythm section with brass, reeds, flute, and a six-player string group. Most of the album remains instrumental; Bonnie Herman joins Kitty and Vivian Haywood on selected chorus parts.

“Funky Music” struts from a twangy keyboard figure into an emphatic female chorus backed by horns. “Beauty and the Beast” thumps through a firm rhythm-section pattern. “Time” glides through lush instrumental contours with fluid, unhurried motion. “Mocha Velvet” sways through mellow strings and restrained rhythmic accents. “Flute Salad” threads a flute lead through a smooth, dance-oriented setting.

A1. “Funky Music” (3:15) – Swedien, Boyell
A2. “Beauty & the Beast” (3:00) – Swedien, Boyell
A3. “Time” (3:08) – Swedien, Boyell
A4. “Chicago Calypso” (3:22) – Boyell, Walker
B1. “Mocha Velvet” (4:18) – Boyell
B2. “Is Anyone Listening?” (3:12) – Swedien, Boyell
B3. “Flute Salad” (4:47) – Boyell
B4. “Gotta Get-A-Way” (3:52) – Swedien, Boyell

Boyell co-produced Moods & Grooves with engineer Bruce Swedien. Label founders John “Juney” Garrett and Richard Parker served as executive producers. Swedien also engineered 1975/76 albums by Natalie Cole (Inseparable) and Quincy Jones (I Heard That!!).

Ju-Par issued the album in two 1976 sleeves built around different waterfall photographs. The January 1977 Motown-distributed edition replaced the landscape with an Antonin Kratochvil portrait of a woman wearing headphones, framed in red and lettered in white script. Motown graphics director Carl Overr oversaw the package. Wriston Jones designed the sleeve, while Bruno Ducourant supplied the inner-sleeve photograph. Jones also designed covers for Willie Hutch (Color Her Sunshine) and The Supremes (Mary, Scherrie & Susaye). Kratochvil supplied contemporary sleeve photography for Denise LaSalle (Second Breath) and George Benson (In Flight).

Ju-Par issued “Funky Music” as a 1976 single (b/w “Time”). After Motown assumed distribution, the A-side entered Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart on June 4, 1977, and reached the No. 32 position. The record also rose to No. 101 on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 ranking.

Traffic Entertainment Group restored the original eight-track program on a June 2005 CD reissue.

Discography: