Funk Factory (feat. Michal Urbaniak & Urszula Dudziak

Funk Factory was released in 1976 on Elektra Records is the creation of famous Polish violinist Michal Urbaniak and his wife Urszula Dudziak in collaboration with the main cast of musicians who collaborated on Urbaniak’s “Fusion III”. This production seems to be a preview of what Urbaniak had in mind for his musical concept and career for the remaining of the 70’s and part of the 80’s. The vocal tracks (with lyrics) mark a drastic departure not only from the Columbia label but from his musical concept of the Fusion trilogy and pave the way for later funky-vocal oriented albums such as “Body English” also from 1976 and “Ecstasy” from 1978. Urbaniak’s high-flying electrified and modified violin sound is still as present as before but Urszula Dudziak’s wide-range vocals and sound effects are less of a driving force as they have given way to the somehow uneventful singing with dull lyrics. There are even a couple of tracks where Urbaniak doesn’t even seem to play. Nonetheless, the rest of the album, which is mainly instrumental, maintains the concept of the Fusion trilogy since at times these instrumental compositions sound like outtakes from those sessions and could easily be paired against some of Urbaniak’s best fusion, thus proving the point that most of any production by any artist contains material, such as the song “Funk It” (sampled below), which is worth considering if taken out of context from their original releases. The cast of musicians continue to stretch and provide further boundaries into improvisation and rhythmic accompaniment in a funkified manner. Personnel are: Michal Urbaniak on violin, Vi-tar and saxes, Urszula Dudziak on vocals and percussion, Wlodek Gulgowski on keyboards, Anthony Jackson and Tony Levin on bass, Steve Gadd and Gerry Brown on drums, Bernard Kafka on vocals, and John Abercrombie and Barry Finnerty on guitars. This album has been reissued thanks to the re-issuing label Wounded Bird Records.

Track Listing:

1. Watusi Dance (Instrumental)

2. Horsing Around

3. Rien Ne Va Plus

4. After All the World Goes Home

5. Next Please (Instrumental)

6. The Music in Me

7. Funk It (Instrumental) (Sampled Above)

8. Lilliput (Instrumental)

9. Sinkin' Low (Instrumental)

Buy Funk Factory at Amazon or Wounded Bird Records, or

Michal Urbaniak-Fusion III

Michal Urbaniak's famous Fusion trilogy came to an end with his third recording for Columbia Records, “Fusion III” released in 1975. In a way it solidified Urbaniak’s sound combining his high-flying electrified and modified violin, his wife, Urszula Dudziak’s wide-range vocals and sound effects with compositions influenced by Eastern European ethnic music patterns and melodies. This time all these elements receive an amazing funkified dose of musicianship from Urbaniak’s American counterparts as the original Polish line-up has been replaced by an amazing cast of New York musicians who stretch even further Urbaniak’s boundaries into improvisation and rhythmic accompaniment. Personnel are Urbaniak on violin and violin synthesizer, Urszula Dudziak on vocals, percussion and synthesizer, Wlodek Gulgowski on piano, organ and moog, the funkified rhythm section of Anthony Jackson on bass and Steve Gadd on drums replaced by Gerry Brown on “Bloody Kishka” and “Roksana”, Bernard Kafka on voice on “Stretch” and the amazing guitars and solos of John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell and Joe Caro who add a twist to Urbaniak’s Fusion sound, which never incorporated guitars before. Probably frustrated awaiting for Sony/Columbia to reissue it, this fusion gem has been reissued by the artist himself on his label UBX by re-mastering it from vinyl. The album as sold on iTunes is also by UBX but I have no way of knowing if it is taken vrom vinyl. Wounded Bird Records did issue it on CD and it is from the original tape (see it on Amazon). Regardless of which one you choose, it's worth it!!

Track Listing:

1. Chinatown, Pt. 1

2. Kuyaviak Goes Funky

3. Roksana

4. Crazy Kid

5. Prehistoric Bird (sampled above)

6. Bloody Kishka

7. Cameo

8. Stretch

9. Metroliner

10. Chinatown, Pt. 2

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Zbigniew Seifert - Zbigniew Seifert

Polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert (1946 - 1979) released this self-titled album in 1977. It was sort of his American debut. Produced by flutist Chris Hinze and bassist John Lee (of the amazing rhythm section of John Lee & Gerry Brown), this album resembles more Hinze’s and Lee’s albums of the time than Seifert’s predecessor production, but the result is a well put together productions with a huge cast of musicians. Personnel are James Batton, Dwight Brewster, Hubert Eaves III, Rob Franken and Mike Mandel on Keyboards, Gerry Brown on drums, John Lee on bass, Joe Caro, Stefan Diez, Reggie Lucas and Philip Catherine on Guitars, Chris Hinze on flutes, Mtume on Percussion & Vocals, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker and Michael Lawrence on trumpets, Michael Brecker on sax, Dave Taylor on trombone and Chris Hinze on flute, plus vocals by Tawatha Agee and Cheryl Alexander. Rip from vinyl was generously provided by Smooth of the former blog My Jazz World. Also check out more information about Zbigniew Seifert and a documentary done on his work at http://passion-themovie.com/documentary.php

Track Listing:

1. On The Farm

2. Quasimodo

3. Way To Oasis

4. For The Love Of You

5. Chinatown (sampled above)

6. Nasty Gal

7. Would You Ever...

8. Song For Christopher

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John Lee & Gerry Brown - Chasers

The formidable duo of bassist John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown recorded Chaser for Columbia in 1979. This time they produced yet another solid fusion effort blending jazz, rock, funk and a bit of disco. Unlike their third album Still Can't Say Enough, it departs from the vocals and it concentrates on formidable instrumentals. It features Eef Alberts and Darryl Thompson on guitars, Kenneth Knudsen on keyboards and synthesizers, Palle Mikkelborg on trumpet and Bobby Malach on tenor sax. Rip generously provided by Smooth of the former blog My Jazz World.

Track Listing:

1. Chaser
2. Will It Last?
3. Fate Ripper
4. Daily Planets
5. Celebration
6. What It If (sampled above)
7. New Waves
8. Prospect Park

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John Lee & Gerry Brown - Still Can't Say Enough

Still Can't Say Enough is the third of four albums by the formidable rhythm section duo of bassist John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown. Just as their 1975's Mango Sunrise, this album is also produced by Skip Drinkwater. It’s a perfect fusion of jazz, rock and funk that features Reggie Lucas and Ray Gomez on guitars, Hubert Eaves, Harold Ivory Williams IV and Rob Franken on keyboards, Ian Underwood on synthesizers and Mtume on congas and percussion. A horn with jazz luminaries as Randy Brecker and Jon Faddis on trumpets, Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts on tenor sax, David Sanborn and Gary Bartz on alto sax, Barry Rodgers on trombone and Ron Cuber on baritone sax. Vocals are provided by Donald Liston Smith, Tawatha Agee and C.P. Alexander. Even thou I have included a Rip from vinyl generously provided by Smooth of the former blog My Jazz World, this album has finally seen the light on CD as it's been released as a Japanese import available at Amazon US, Amazon Europe and at Dusty Groove to name a few.

Track Listing:

1. Freeze It Up
2. Love The Way You Make Me Feel
3. Rise On (sampled above)
4. Funky Row
5. Talkin’ ‘Bout The Right One
6. Strut ‘N’ Get Up
7. Breakin’
8. Down The Way
9. Out The Box

Buy at Dusty Groove, Amazon US or Amazon EU.

John Lee & Gerry Brown - Mango Sunrise

The formidable duo of bassist John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown recorded and played with fusion-oriented group, The Chris Hinze Combination, Joachim Kuhn and other jazz artists while living in Europe. After recording their debut album, Infinite Jones (Keytone, 1974, later reissued on CD as Bamboo Madness) they returned to America in 1975 and signed with the Blue Note label. Mango Sunrise was their first album for Blue Note. Produced by Skip Drinkwater it features Philip Catherine, Eef Alberts and Wah Wah Watson on guitars, Rob Franken, Eric Tagg, Mike Mandel and Jasper Van’t Hof on Keyboards and synthesizers. Even thou I have provided a Rip from vinyl generously provided by Smooth of former blog My Jazz World, it seems this album will finally be released on CD as seen on Dusty Groove.

Track Listing:

1. Mango Sunrise
2. Breakfast Of Champions
3. Ethereal Cereal (sampled above)
4. Keep It Real
5. The Stop And Go
6. Her Celestial Body
7. Pickin' The Bone
8. Haida
9. Magnum Opus

Pre-order it from Dusty Groove.

John Lee & Gerry Brown - Bamboo Madness (aka Infinite Jones)

Bassist John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown released this LP in 1974 on Keytone Records label. These two outstanding musicians teamed up as the basic rhythm sections for many outstanding performers and their recordings, such as Chris Hinze, Joachim Kuhn, Stanley Clarke, Joe Henderson, Max Roach, Jasper Van’t Hoff and Toots Thielemans just to name a few. In this funky, Jazzy first outing they are joined by Gary Bartz on alto & soprano saxophones, Chris Hinze on flute, alto & bass flute, piccolo, bamboo flute, Henny Vonk on vocals & percussion, Howard Kinng on percussion, Rob van de Broek, Hubert Eaves & Jasper Van 't Hof on piano and Wim Stolwijk on piano and voice.

Track Listing:

1. Infinite Jones (sampled above)

2. Deliverance

3. Jua

4. Abistively Posolutely

5. Rise On

6. Who Can See The Shadow of the Moon

7. Bamboo Madness

Buy it from Timeless Records or

Jasper Van't Hof - Eye Ball

Pianist Jasper Van’t Hof released this album in 1974 on the Keytone Record Label. Jasper Van’t Hof jazz style is based on the blues, swing, bebop, and free jazz mixed with rock influences. He was a member of the Pierre Courbois Association and later formed the group Pork Pie featuring the late Charlie Mariano. Produced by Chris Hinze, this jazz-fusion cult classic has become one of the pianist’s trademark albums. Bass player John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown provide their incredible energy as the rhythm section and they are joined by Wim Overgaauw on guitars and the late polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert.

Track Listing:

1. Bax

2. Viper Snake

3. Eyeball I

4. Hyrax (sampled above)

5. Schwester Johanna

6. Laur

7. One Leg Missing

8. Eyeball II

9. The Rev

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Toots Thilemans - Two Generations

Jean 'Toots' Thielemans achieved worldwide recognition as the world’s most renowned harmonica player through his playing with the Benny Goodman Sextet, the George Shearing Quintet and in film music themes such as Midnight Cowboy, The Getaway and the TV series Sesame Street. His own composition, Bluesette (sampled below), is one of the most popular jazz waltzes in the world. He has performed and recorded with such greats as Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Paul Simon and many more. This Chris Hinze production finds Thilemans playing many different styles accompanied by the funky rhythm section of John Lee on bass and Gerry Brown on drums, plus a group of gifted talents like Philip Catherine on guitar, Joachim Kuhn on keyboards and Chris Hinze on flute.

Track Listing:

1. Bluesette (sampled above)
2. Be Be Creole
3. Monologue
4. Two Generations
5. Why Did I Choose You
6. Uncle Charlie
7. Friday Night
8. T.T. Toots Thielemans
9. Inner Journey
10. L'eternal Mari

Buy it from Timeless Records or Amazon Two Generations or