George Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American jazz-funk keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer, active from the mid-1960s through the early 2010s. During the 1970s and ’80s, he released 21 studio albums. Duke began his career as a Bay Area post-bop bandleader. After a stint with Jean-Luc Ponty, he embraced jazz-rock […]
Billy Cobham (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian-American jazz-rock drummer who played in the bands Dreams, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Atmospheres during the early 1970s. Starting with his 1973 solo debut Spectrum, Cobham released eight albums on Atlantic and four on Columbia through 1979, including a live release in partnership with George Duke. He […]
Stanley Clarke is an American jazz-funk bassist who gained prominence in the supergroup Return to Forever. Amid numerous backing credits, Clarke made his solo debut with the 1973 Polydor release Children of Forever. On Nemperor, he cut the 1974–79 albums Stanley Clarke, Journey to Love, School Days, Modern Man, and I Wanna Play for You. […]
Sister Sledge was an American soul group from Philadelphia comprised of sisters Debbie, Kim, Joni, and Kathy Sledge. They cut three 1973–74 singles on ATCO, which issued their 1975 debut album Circle of Love. On Cotillion, they cut six albums between 1977 and 1983, including their 1979 Chic-backed mega-seller We Are Family. Members: Debbie Sledge […]
Canyon Lady is a jazz-funk album by American saxist Joe Henderson, released in May 1975 on Milestone. Notable players on the album include keyboardist George Duke, trombonist Julian Priester, trumpeter Luis Gasca, and reedists Hadley Caliman and Ray Pizzi. The album was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Calif., on October 1–3, 1973. “Tres Palabras” […]
Stories to Tell is a 1974 album by Brazilian vocalist Flora Purim. The release is her third as a solo performer and the second after a two-album stint with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. et Tracklist: A1. Stories to Tell A2. Search for Peace A3. Casa Forte A4. Insensatez A5. Mountain Train B1. To Say […]
Journey to Love is the third album by American jazz-rock bassist Stanley Clarke, released in 1975 on Nemperor. Tracklist: A1. “Silly Putty” (4:40) A2. “Journey to Love” (4:54) A3. “Hello Jeff” (5:16) A4. “Song to John (Part 1) (Dedicated to John Coltrane)” (4:20) B1. “Song to John (Part 2) (Dedicated to John Coltrane)” (6:05) B2. “Concerto […]
Individual Choice is the ninth Atlantic-era studio album by French/American violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in August 1983. The album marked a change for the composer/bandleader, who was now incorporating elements of electronic minimalism into his trademark jazz-rock sound. Tracklist: A1. “Computer Incantations for World Peace” (5:43) A2. “Far From the Beaten Paths” (6:02) A3. “In […]
Guardian of the Light is the sixteenth studio album by American jazz-funk keyboardist George Duke, released in 1983 on Epic. Tracklist: A1. “Overture” (1:37) A2. “Light” (3:23) A3. “Shane” (3:15) A4. “Born to Love You” (3:10) A5. “Silly Fightin’” (5:07) A6. “You (Are the Light)” (4:15) A7. “The War Fugue Interlude” (1:12) B1. “Reach Out” […]
Continuation is the debut solo album by American soul/funk vocalist Philip Bailey, released in 1983 on Columbia. Tracklist: A1. “I Know” (4:04) A2. “Trapped” (5:29) A3. “It’s Our Time” (3:51) A4. “Desire” (5:29) B1. “I’m Waiting for Your Love” (4:16) B2. “Vaya (Go With Love)” (4:20) B3. “The Good Guy’s Supposed to Get The Girls” (4:16) […]
Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly is the fourth album by Brazilian experimental samba/jazz vocalist Flora Purim, released in 1976 on Milestone. et Tracklist: A1. “Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly” (4:29) A2. “Time’s Lie” (5:09) A3. “Sometime Ago” (4:45) A4. “San Francisco River” (4:07) B1. “Andei (I Walked)” (6:12) B2. “Medley: Ina (Trip to […]
Dream On is the fifteenth studio album by American jazz-funk keyboardist George Duke, released in 1982 on Epic. Tracklist: A1. “Shine On” (5:12) A2. “You” (4:38) A3. “Dream On” (4:01) A4. “I Will Always Be Your Friend” (3:28) A5. “Framed” (3:17) B1. “Ride on Love” (5:24) B2. “Son of Reach for It (The Funky Dream)” […]
Breakin’ Away is the fifth album by American jazz-pop/soul vocalist Al Jarreau, released in 1981 on Warner Bros. Tracklist: A1. “Closer to Your Love” (3:57) A2. “My Old Friend” (4:29) A3. “We’re in This Love Together” (3:47) A4. “Easy” (5:26) A5. “Our Love” (3:53) B1. “Breakin’ Away” (4:13) B2. “Roof Garden” (6:21) B3. “(Round, Round, […]
Bad for Me is the fourth solo album by American soul/funk/jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, released in 1979 on Elektra. Tracklist: A1. “Bad for Me” (5:35) A2. “Back of Your Mind” (3:18) A3. “For the Girls” (4:46) A4. “Love Won’t Let Me Go” (4:00) B1. “Streetsinger” (3:34) B2. “It’s the Falling in Love” (3:36) B3. […]
Encounter is an album by Brazilian jazz vocalist Flora Purim, released in 1977 on Milestone. et Tracklist: A1. “Windows” (5:33) A2. “Latinas” (3:43) A3. “Uri (The Wind)” (8:07) A4. “Dedicated to Bruce” (4:15) B1. “Above the Rainbow” (3:28) B2. “Tomara (I Wish)” (4:03) B3. “Encounter” (7:13) B4. “Black Narcissus” (6:36) Credits: Flora Purim — vocals, backing […]
Just Family is the third solo album by American soul/jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, released in 1977 on Elektra. Tracklist: A1. “Just Family” Stanley Clarke, Richard Duncan, Gilbert Moses (5:06) A2. “Maybe Today” Gilbert Moses (6:54) A3. “Children Are the Spirit (Of the World)” Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Ray Gomez, Gilbert Moses (3:07) A4. “Sorry […]
This Time is the fourth studio album by American jazz-pop/soul singer Al Jarreau, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Tracklist: A1. “Never Givin’ Up” (3:58) A2. “Gimme What You Got” (3:45) A3. “Love Is Real” (4:26) A4. “Alonzo” (5:26) A5. “(If I Could Only) Change Your Mind” (4:17) B1. “Spain (I Can Recall)” (6:32) B2. […]
A Brazilian Love Affair is the fourteenth studio album by American jazz-funk keyboardist George Duke, released in 1980 on Epic. Tracklist: A1. “Brazilian Love Affair” (7:22) A2. “Summer Breezin’” (4:48) A3. “Cravo e Canela” (3:05) A4. “Alone-6 AM” (1:07) A5. “Brazilian Sugar” (5:33) B1. “Sugar Loaf Mountain” (4:09) B2. “Love Reborn” (4:27) B3. “Up From […]
Save the Country is the debut album by American jazz-funk keyboardist George Duke, released in 1970 on Liberty. “Shades of Joy”… trumpets blare right out of the gate, swinging big band vibe… piano run commences @:35, Duke takes control, goes from speedy ivory runs to blockier keys… fluid trumpet enters @ around 1:30 for a […]
