Influences of Jazz and Fusion on Disco

[orangefunk]

A lot of my fav Disco music features quite jazzy chords (Chic, Salsoul Orchestra, Dr Buzzards Savannah Jazz Band et al) but I've never been that convinced by jazzers who went Disco even though I'm a jazz pianist myself. Some of the attempts on CTI were just lame (Yusef Lateefs "Autophysiopsychic", Dave Matthews "SHoogie Wanna Boogie", Freddie Hubbard "Splash" etc) but amongst some of these horrors were some real gems which probably not many of you guys will have heard.



I really Jeremy Steigs 1977 LP Firefly with Googie Coppola on vocals on a real nice title track. Nice and long too at 11 mins or so. Another fine disco jazz track was Eddie Russ' See The Light which has some great Rhodes and Moogy soloing with the greatest of female vocals...



Of course Idris Muhammads "Could Heaven Ever be Like This" is a classic but a lot of the rest of that LP was just filler... Tasty Cakes anyone?? :grin:



So what do any of you guys think of the jazz disco scene?



Peace

Orangefunk

[Fantomas]

As far as I'm concerned, "Jazzy" Disco was just another step in the evolution of Disco.

I liked Maynard Fergusson's version of Pagliacci a lot. I also liked Nino Tempo's Sister James (Don't Play no Games), Chick Corea, and of course Eumir Deodato.

[BrunoRepublic]

Milton Hamilton's "Disco Madness" LP is a brilliant example of jazz-disco fusion, and one of my favourite records. Haven't heard anything else like it (yet).

[Mixmachine]

Track down this few and listen to this jazzy disco hits,



"Always There" (76) Side Effect,(also by Willy Bobo).

"Chloe" (76) Cy Coleman

"Land of Make Believe"/"Tubular bell" (killer track)(76)Champs Boys Orchestra

“Highjack” Herbie Mann

“Expansions” (75) Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes.

“The Bottle” Bataan (74)

“The Chicago theme” Hubert Laws(75)

“Walking in Rhythm” & “Gut level”(75) Blackbirds

“Runaway” Roy Ayers

and I agree with Graham, the "disco madness" by Milton Hamilton Crystalized is a great album,especially "My Love Supreme".

[guille]

Don't forget The Crusaders and their dance-jazz tune "Streetlight". Also Shakatak had some songs that were used on dancefloors, as well as George Benson.

A year ago I saw a 12" version of Billie Halliday's "Solitude" mixed to more contemporary dance sounds. I only saw the cover of that 12" but never had the chance to listen to it.

Have a Disco Life.

[sirius]

You mean CRUSADERS with "Street Life"...

also look for WILTON FELDER, NOEL POINTER,

RONNIE LAWS, HUBERT LAWS, DAVID FATHEAD

NEWMAN, LALO SCHIFRIN and certainly HERBIE

HANCOCK!!!

Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[NickNack]

On 2002-04-06 02:08, guille wrote:

Also Shakatak had some songs that were used on dancefloors, as well as George Benson.

Shakatak --- one of my favorites. The only problem with their version of "You'll Never Know" is that it's too short!



As far as jazz and disco fusing, I think MFSB gives a solid foundation along with all the other groups mentioned.

[SandraDee]

In my opinion the best disco-jazz trax are-



Space Princess - Lonnie liston Smith

Love has Come Around - Donald Byrd

Say You Will - Eddie Henderson

Whistle Bump - Deodato

Street Life - Crusaders

Delirium - Francine McGee

You Got The Floor - Arthur Adams

Flying on the Wings of Love - Level 42

Mysteries of the World - MFSB

Sweet Nothings - Tyzik

Kasso - Kasso

Sweet Power,Your Embrace - James Mason

[orangefunk]

On 2002-04-07 12:51, Steely Dan wrote:

In my opinion the best disco-jazz trax are-

..

Delirium - Francine McGee



..

Sweet Power,Your Embrace - James Mason



..

Whoah.. funk city!! I remember hearing Francine McGhees Delerium for the first time and being really knocked out, I had the original RCA 12" too...



Sweet Power Embrace always was one of my favs, a pity the idiot DJs I knew used to play this on maximum speed on their SL1200s.. causing the chipmunk effect.. why do people do that!!

[jazz_pilgrim]

Well, I was part of the "Soul Mafia" soul scene that was happening in Southern England around the late 70's. Jazz-fusion was an integral and essential part of the music that was played, which varied from disco through soul and of course jazz.



I was part of a group or "tribes" called the Jazz Pilgrims. The best part were the CAISTER Soul Weekenders – a whole damn weekend of this fabulous music!!



There were a number of jazz tunes that became absolute ANTHEMS on the scene. I remember discovering most of these tracks at Hilltops - a Monday nite session near Brands Hatch in Kent. I recall hearing these fantastic driving bass rhythms for the first time as a wet-behind-the-ears 16 year old and thinking “WOW! What is this MUSIC??”



Some of the tunes have been mentioned above, but here are the tunes we loved and were 100% GUARANTEED to fill the floor:





Donald Byrd – Dominoes (Live at the Roxy) (ANTHEM OF ALL ANTHEMS)

Willie Bobo – Always There

Lonnie Liston Smith – Expansions

Reuben Wlson – Got To Get Your Own

Manfredo Fest – Jungle Kitten

John Klemmer – Brasilia

Crusaders – Snowflake

Ingrams – Mi Sebrina Tequana

Webster Lewis – Barbara Ann

Johnny Hammond - Los Conquistadores Chocolates / Fantasy



Some of the more disco-influenced / jazz stuff would have included:



Deodato - various incl Whistle Bump, Skyscraper etc

El Coco – Let’s Get It Together

Roy Ayers – Running Away

Paulette Reeves – Jazz Freak



We would quite happily dance to these alongside the more mainstream disco like Billy Paul, McFadden & Whitehead, Players Association etc

[Nano]

How come you don't mention Roy Ayers's "Love will keep up us together"? That's a great funky disco song, even today.

Roy have lot of groovy disco sounds. And what about Mystic Merlin's "Hideaway"? Not a hit, but still a great recording by people with a jazz pedigree.

[Funky Dude]

The sound of funky jazz certainly has had a big influence of the funk and disco scene to my opinion. Here are a list of some of my favourite jazz funk/disco songs:



Kool & The Gang - Love The Life You Live 1971

Kool & The Gang - Street Corner Symphony 1974

Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie 1973

Kool & The Gang - Hollywood Swinging 1973

Kool & The Gang - Higher Plane 1974

Kool & The Gang - Caribbean Festival 1975

Kool & The Gang - Electric Frog 1972

Kool & The Gang - Soul Vibrations 1972

Kool & The Gang - Spirit Of The Boogie 1975

Kool & The Gang - Slick Superchick 1977

Kool & The Gang - Open Sesame 1976

Brass Construction - Take It Easy (early 70's)

Brass Construction - Movin' 1975

Brass Construction - Dance 1975

Brass Construction - Ha Cha Cha 1976

Brass Construction - Sambo 1976

Brass Construction - We 1977

Brass Construction - Top Of The World 1977

Brass Construction - Get It Together 1977

Roy Ayers - Brother Green (Disco King) 1975

Brecker Brothers - Some Skunk Funk 1975

Yambu - Sunny 1975

Cleveland Eaton - Bama Boogie Woogie 1976

Kay Gees - You've Got To Keep On Bumpin' 1974

Kay Gees - Hustle With Every Muscle 1975

Nino Tempo - Sister James 1973

Pleasure - Glide 1978

Pleasure - Getto's Of The Mind 1976

O.C. Smith - Blowin' Your Mind 1972

Osibisa - Music For Gong Gong 1971

Nite-Liters, The - Theme From Shaft 1972

George Benson - Good King Bad 1976

Memphis Horns - Get Up & Dance 1976

Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions' 1975

Fred Wesley & The JBs - Blow Your Head 1974

Juggy Murray Jones - Inside America 1976

KC & The Sunshine Band - All My Love 1974

KC & The Sunshine Band - I'm A Pushover 1974

KC & The Sunshine Band - Baby I Want Your Lovin' 1974

Herbie Mann - Hijack 1975

Herbie Mann - Waterbed 1975

Brick - Dazz 1976

Gary Toms Empire - 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Blow Your Whistle 1975

Fatback Band - Free Form 1972

Faith Hope & Charity - To Each & His Own 1975

Deodato - Skyscrapers 1973

Deodato - Super Strut 1973

Con Funk Shun - Ffun 1977

Crown Heights Affair - Dreaming A Dream 1975

Crown Heights Affair - Dancin' 1976

Curtis Mayfield - Junkie Chase 1972

Bar-Kays - Son Of Shaft 1972

Bar-kays - Let's Have Some Fun 1977

Blackbyrds - Time Is Movin' 1975

Blackbyrds - Flying High 1975

Blackbyrds - Future Children, Future Hopes 1974

Blackbyrds - Gut Level 1973

Blackbyrds - Party Land 1975

Blackbyrds - Spaced Out 1974

Blackbyrds - The Blackbyrds' Theme 1973

Blackbyrds - Spaced Out 1974

Blackbyrds - Walking In Rhythm 1974

Blackbyrds - Hash & Eggs 1975

Blackbyrds - Happy Music 1975

Blackbyrds - City Life 1975

Blackbyrds - Life Styles 1973

Apollis - What It Is 1976

Sammy Davis Jr - John Shaft 1972



A lot to list but those are some of my favourites.

[orangefunk]

Thanks Jazz Pilgrim,



I'd love to have heard the Caister music scene back in the day.. its great hearing from someone who experienced that whole scene. Wasn't Ronnie Fosters "Happy song" a big Caister tune too??



Oh and what about Eddie Henderson "Say You WIll" etc..



I first got into this back in 89 after hearing a few of these tunes played on a radio show in the North...



Good call on the Los Conquistadores Chocolates tune... incredible... didn't they still play this in House clubs as well in the late 80s??



Peace

Orangefunk

On 2002-04-12 07:01, jazz_pilgrim wrote:

Well, I was part of the "Soul Mafia" soul scene that was happening in Southern England around the late 70's. Jazz-fusion was an integral and essential part of the music that was played, which varied from disco through soul and of course jazz.



I was part of a group or "tribes" called the Jazz Pilgrims. The best part were the CAISTER Soul Weekenders – a whole damn weekend of this fabulous music!!



There were a number of jazz tunes that became absolute ANTHEMS on the scene. I remember discovering most of these tracks at Hilltops - a Monday nite session near Brands Hatch in Kent. I recall hearing these fantastic driving bass rhythms for the first time as a wet-behind-the-ears 16 year old and thinking “WOW! What is this MUSIC??”



Some of the tunes have been mentioned above, but here are the tunes we loved and were 100% GUARANTEED to fill the floor:





Donald Byrd – Dominoes (Live at the Roxy) (ANTHEM OF ALL ANTHEMS)

Willie Bobo – Always There

Lonnie Liston Smith – Expansions

Reuben Wlson – Got To Get Your Own

Manfredo Fest – Jungle Kitten

John Klemmer – Brasilia

Crusaders – Snowflake

Ingrams – Mi Sebrina Tequana

Webster Lewis – Barbara Ann

Johnny Hammond - Los Conquistadores Chocolates / Fantasy



Some of the more disco-influenced / jazz stuff would have included:



Deodato - various incl Whistle Bump, Skyscraper etc

El Coco – Let’s Get It Together

Roy Ayers – Running Away

Paulette Reeves – Jazz Freak



We would quite happily dance to these alongside the more mainstream disco like Billy Paul, McFadden & Whitehead, Players Association etc

[jazz_pilgrim]

Nano - apologies!! How could I miss out on Roy Ayers?? For your information, he is my ALL-TIME favourite artist, and the influence that he has had on black music cannot be under-estimated. Of course, "Love Will Bring Us Back Together" was right up there with his best tunes. Incidentally, my fave tune of all-time is Roy's "Running Away". This track was responsible for me getting hooked on the dance music scene in 1977 - and I'm still crazy about the music .. I've seen Roy twice in concert, and he is not only a great musician, but a great showman as well.



I have not heard that "Mystic Mmerlin" track but I look out for it. "Just Can't Give You Up" was a big hit here in the UK clubs - with some very tasty sax work !



Funky Dude - as usual, an excellent list!! Some really good tunes in there. I agree with yr comment entirely.



Nice to hear mention of those tracks from Pleasure - I haven't heard "Ghettos Of The Mind" in ages. One of the great highlights of a Saturday night was always THAT bass break on "Glide" ...



And like Roy Ayers, you cannot under-estimate the influence that Professor Donald Byrd had on the music scene at that time - his music was really ground-breaking stuff!

The album "Blackbyrd" is particularly fine, in my opinion.



OrangeFunk - that Caister Scene was certainly fun. I remember the Shaving Cream and Water Pistol fights with the tribes from the neighbouring chalets!!



I cannot recall with certainty if the Ronnie Foster track was a big Caister hit ot not. I certainly remember Eddie Henderson's "Say You Will" - I still play that frequently. That was one of the first tracks I got into ...



Regarding the Johhny Hammond LP, I remember when the word got out that the copies of the album were available as "cut-outs", we all dashed up to HMV or Our Price in the West End of London - and there they were - a whole pile of them for £1.99!! Mine's still in pretty good nick, despite being played so many times.

[Leatherman]

For me the jazzy side of disco is the best material. I love an uptempo funky rhythm track with jazzy chords and solos

Some faves are

Lonnie Liston Smith "Space Princess/Give Peace a Chance"
Azmyth "Jazz Carnival"
Dexter Wansell "Life on Mars"
Mass Production "Cosmic Lust/Shante"
Locksmith "Blackjack"
Rhythm Makers "Zone"
Gary Bartz "Music"
Candido "Super City/Candidos funk"
Roy Ayers "Hey, what you say Come On"
Aqurian Dream "East 6th St"
George Duke "Scuse me Miss"
Herbie Hancock "Just Around the Corner"
Rodney Franklin "In the Cente"
Pleasure "Joyous"
Funk Fusion Band "Can You feel it"

This sound was generally more a major label thing than the pure disco of Salsoul, West End etc. Often when jazz guys put out LP's in the late 70's they were disco influenced and when they got it right it is a pretty potent brew. As others have mentioned "Whistle Bump" is a brilliant exmple of jazz funky disco at it's best!