The Crusaders - Crusaders 1 (1972) Remastered Reissue 2006
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 438 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 197 Mb | Scans included
Label: Blue Thumb | # BTS 6001, 0602517040663 | Time: 01:17:41
Jazz-Funk, Fusion, Soul Jazz, Crossover Jazz
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 438 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 197 Mb | Scans included
Label: Blue Thumb | # BTS 6001, 0602517040663 | Time: 01:17:41
Jazz-Funk, Fusion, Soul Jazz, Crossover Jazz
In 1971, the Jazz Crusaders reinvented themselves for the first time. First they dropped the word "jazz" from their moniker, and secondly they wholeheartedly embraced electric bass and guitars in their mix. Their new "debut" is a wonder of jazz-funk as a natural evolution out of hard bop and soul-jazz. While the wonderful horn interplay between saxophonist Wilton Felder and trombonist Wayne Henderson is still everywhere evident, the badass, beat-driven rhythm section has Joe Sample playing funky Rhodes piano against Chuck Rainey's basslines and an orgy of guitars – led by Larry Carlton's brilliant lead work. These are all anchored by Stix Hooper's never out-of-the-pocket, popping kit work. Certainly other acts had used the same instrumentation, but the sheer sophistication in the Crusaders compositions and charts combined with their dedication to grooved-out accessibility – and Stewart Levine's magnificent production – made them a singular entity even in the up-and-coming jazz-rock fusion scene.