Pharoah Sanders (1940–2022) was an American jazz saxophonist who cut eleven albums between 1967 and 1974 on Impulse!, including the popular 1969 release Karma, recorded with singer–percussionist Leon Thomas and pianist Lonnie Liston Smith. In 1980, Sanders reemerged with Journey to the One, his first of six albums on the jazz-specialty label Theresa. Background He […]
Norman Connors is an American drummer, composer, producer, and arranger who emerged in the Seventies behind Pharoah Sanders. He attained bandleader status with the 1972/73 Cobblestone titles Dance of Magic and Dark of Light. For Buddah, he cut the 1974–77 jazz-funk albums Love From the Sun, Slewfoot, Saturday Night Special, You Are My Starship, and […]
Eddie Henderson (born Oct. 26, 1940) is an American trumpeter, cornetist, and composer who emerged in Herbie Hancock‘s backing band Mwandishi. On Capricorn, he released the popular 1973/74 albums Realization and Inside Out. Switching to Blue Note, he made the 1975/76 albums Sunburst and Heritage, followed by a trio of titles on Capitol, including the […]
Michael Henderson (July 7, 1951 – July 19, 2022) was an American R&B bassist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer who served as a backing player for Miles Davis during the early 1970s. As a solo artist, he released seven albums on Buddah between 1976 and 1983, followed by an eighth on EMI in 1986. Background Henderson […]
Aquarian Dream was an American soul-funk project assembled by producer/musician Norman Connors for a 1976 album on Buddah Records, followed by the 1978/79 Elektra titles Fantasy and Chance to Dance. Members: Gloria Jones (lead vocals), Jacques Burvick (keyboards), Jimmy Morrison (drums), Mike Fowler (percussion), Pete Bartee (guitar), Claude Bartee Jr. (saxophone), Valerie Horn (lead vocals, […]
Odyssey is a jazz-funk album by American keyboardist/composer Charles Earland, released in 1976 on Mercury. Notable players on the album include guitarist John Abercrombie, trumpeter Randy Brecker, drummer Norman Connors, and violinists Michał Urbaniak and John Blair. The album was the first of four on Mercury for Earland, who had just wrapped a six-year, 10-album stint […]
Starship Orchestra was an American jazz-funk band that released the 1980 Columbia album Celestial Sky. Members: Norman Connors, Munyungo Jackson, Ralph Jones, Billy McCoy Background Starship Orchestra emerged in the late 1970s as the recording and touring ensemble of Philadelphia drummer and producer Norman Connors. Arista credited Norman Connors and the Starship Orchestra on the […]
Love from the Sun is the third headlining album by American jazz drummer Norman Connors, released in 1974 on Buddah. Tracklist: A1. “Revelation” (9:00) A2. “Carlos II” (6:08) A3. “Drums Around the World” (5:40) B1. “Love From the Sun” (8:14) B2. “Kumakucha (The Sun Has Risen)” (6:09) B3. “Holy Waters” (5:28) Credits: Norman Connors — […]
