Gabor Szabo - Galatea's Guitar

Not only is Gabor an amazing guitarist and prolific jazz musician, he was an incredible innovator. He started experimenting with eastern sounds and innovating very early on. I got sucked into the Gabor world pool with his Jazz Raga LP. That was the first 'real' Szabo ticket for me. Back in my mod days I'd always try an album with a girl on a scooter, throw a sitar in the mix, then I was really sold.
Turned out to be more that just a cool cover. An LP rich with texture and feeling, stopping throughout the world to pick up varied influences. It began my 'branching out' into other areas, and I've gotta thank Gabor for that. Time to delve right into a nice Chai tea on a rainy day and peep a Fellini movie. And, I think Gabor still represents that for many with his music. His eastern influences and Hungarian descent set his path and direction for virtually all of his magnificent career.
So, here's the real bread winner. Later on, a friend turned me onto this 'Dreams' LP by Gabor. This tune 'Galatea's Guitar' is a major mood setter. Much of Gabor's music is this way. But, in particular this tune just seems to open up, right into an oasis of head nodding trippy jazz funk paradise. The intro is a bit long, the tune doesn't really start until about 1:44. But, like I said the mood is being set and the wait is well worth it. It is perhaps the closest to a 'dream' tune.



 I'm going to include my two favorite tracks from 'Jazz Raga' as well. Both 'Walking On Nails' and 'Raga Doll' are fantastic and an excellent starting point if you've yet to travel to Szabo-town.
Originally from Hungary, Gabor has a long and prolific catalog, but never got the appreciation he felt he deserved. He once publicly complained about never getting credit for a well known George Benson song. His claim was that 'Breezin', a huge success for Benson, was basically 'his' song. Thing is, most of us DO appreciate this man and have the highest regard for him. There was a huge resurgence and flow of popularity for him and the likes of Cal Tjader. Those two men started the Skye record label and those releases are also hugely regarded amongst us 'Rare Groove', 'Acid Jazz' and 'Latin' connoisseurs. Thumbs up Gabor, and Rest In Peace!

Gabor Szabo - Galatea's Guitar
Gabor Szabo - Walking On Nails
Gabor Szabo - Raga Doll

Herb Geller - The Power Of A Smile

From the fantastic Herb Geller LP 'Rhyme And Reason'. This tune 'The Power Of A Smile' and 'Space A La Mode' both feature the amazing Mark Murphy on vocals. This tune works on so many levels for me. It's jazzy, it's danceable, spacey and down right SICK. It's epic in proportion and length and has a big band feel. It traverses through many different levels including genius horn arrangements and amazing percussion arrangements yet brings it back to the same groove it started with. It stems from the world of vocal jazz, in the realms of Eddie Jefferson and Gil Scot Heron to name a few. It brings me back to the days when I was being educated by the Acid Jazz comps coming from the UK. The days of 'New York Afternoons' by Richie Cole and 'Chicken Lickin'' by Funk Inc. I was just beginning to sink my teeth into that sound and went from Acid Jazz to Rare Groove like some kinda wildfire. So, I've always had an affinity for this sound. I think those comps were on the 'Street Sounds' label. Anyone remember those?

I think I came into this LP via trades with the legendary Beni B. Way back in the day, when we worked at KALX together, long before he embarked on his own hip-hop label. That was a good time for trading and learning amongst peers for me. Beni turned me onto a small handful of grails. So, not sure exactly..but thanks to Beni for possibly putting me up on this ages ago. I may have obtained some not so rare, pretty common pieces in my dealings with him too. But, I learned my lesson. And, a few of you out there have learned your lesson via trading with me as well. All a part of the game I suppose.

The tune takes us on a voyage through several landscapes. A bed of samples for any Rhodes, guitar and sax fan. I hardly post up jazz stuff, so this is long overdue 'cause I am indeed a fan. I like the positive feel and 'Cosmic' approach that this LP has, and it's apparent in 'Power Of A Smile'.
In searching for more info on Mark Murphy and Herb Geller I found two interesting blogs...

http://clubdub.blogspot.com/
lovingly called.. 'Happy as a fat rat in a cheese factory'
and
http://neverenoughrhodes.blogspot.com/
which seems dedicated to Rhodes Electric Piano.. Man, do I miss mine!

These blogs are both chock full of information and have tons of other related LP's. So, rather than repeat that info, you can seek it out. Please search those sites for this entire LP and many other interesting albums. Just start by searching for Mark Murphy or Herb Geller, and go from there. Wow, I've really outdone myself. Like you need me to teach you how to search for music. Next I'll be giving instructions on 'how to use the internet'. That'll be the day. But seriously. I'm not trying to be the final word or an expert in any genre, so I'll leave that to the other folks. I just love music. Some of this and some of that. As I've said before..this is just my experiences with music..and a kind of ever evolving mix tape with hopefully an open conversation.....
 




Herb Geller - The Power Of A Smile

Hummingbird - You Can't Hide Love

The other night I went for a cruise. I stopped by the ocean and watched the sunset. Then went downtown under the bridge and chatted with some hooker. Then I went a few blocks, got out of my car, walked in front of another car and pulled them out of their car, and stole their ride. Later I got kinda bored, so I crashed my car into a police car and had a shoot out with the police. It took a few minutes, but I stole another car and got away. Then this came on the radio..Hummingbird - "You Can't Hide Love". Oh, wow.... THAT tune! Fuckin' amazing. When I first heard that tune I wasn't as impressed. Again, I had my head way too deep into HARD funk, and the soft stuff just didn't move me as much. NOW, more recently...that's my shit. I'm not sure about carbon footprints, moral values, or what the real purpose is for drive/steal/kill video games (other than to just pass some time). But, I'll tell you they have definately figured out how to expose music. I remember hearing Oliver Cheatham's "Get Down Saturday Night" and being like 'wow, yes! THAT jam...so glad that's on here' (when I heard it) on an earlier version of Grand Theft Auto. They made me want to play that tune out again. Same with this Hummingbird track. A definate jewel of an unknown soul song, by a long lost group. Can you believe even FELA KUTI is on Grand Theft. That's amazing. I gotta say to the video game kids, nice work. burn rubber bitches.

Hummingbird - You Can't Hide Love

American Gypsy

American Gypsy were a funk jazz outfit with deep mutating grooves and were slightly progressive and experimental. I was first hip to them in my endless quest for samples, and as usual stumbled on their drum sounds. And, as usual I was turned onto a richer sound that drew me into the entire LP and eventually a whole 'nuther style of music. Throaty big and lush vocals, much like Gil Scot-Heron, and tracks that totaled a vast array of influences. American Gypsy were in fact, American, but spent much time abroad. They spent a great deal of time in the Netherlands and released two Lp's there, one in the mid 70's and another in the early 80's. Sandwiched between the two is this excellent American release on the chess label. "Inside Out" starts as a classical music prelude number, and erupts into one the sickest drum and bass breaks I've ever put my ears on. The song changes yet again into a slower misty eyed groove, amazing! "Stuck on you" is a little more common fare disco style, but still a good indication of how capable American Gypsy were at transcending scenes. One could say they were well ahead of their time. They were indeed quite popular among other US musicians and had quite a period of notoriety for their live gigs. I suppose they found more appreciation overseas, but now they are well loved and appreciated here as well.

American Gypsy - Inside Out

American Gypsy - Stuck On You

US 69 - Yesterdays Folks

US 69 is a strange little outfit. They blended funk, rock, psych, and jazz together to make their own unique flavor. This is an excellent LP. Released on Buddah in 1969, birth year of yours truly, it's fantastic from start to finish. Even the finest psych Lp is rarely enjoyable throughout. The vocal stylings on this are great, as is the constant great lyrical references to plastic people and taking off of disguises. Other common fare of psych lyrical trends are here as well "making your mind up", and "open up your door". They were extremely experimental and one of several groups at the time blending rock with full horn sections. 

"I'm A Nobody" is an excellent fast jazzy groove that has a punk edge. It's a favorite of mine and just a tremendously killer track. I don't think I've heard anything quite like it before. A direct mirror of a track would be Gil Scott-Heron's "Free Will"

from his 1972 LP of the same name. "Yesterdays Folks" is a tuff and funky blue eyed soul scorcher right out of the hippie funk and psych rock camps. It's fat breaks and outrageous lyrics will keep you on the edge of your seat. "I Hear You Talkin'" is a gentle and affecting tune, and greatly reminds me of the group Chicago. It also reeks of being in need of being sampled. Oddly mostly all the tracks on this LP have the 'sampled' potential and there's even a rumored DJ Shadow loop within. I'm not versed enough with his material to find it, but pleased none the less for the stamp of approval. Or, should I say "Samp" of approval. Bet you no one has coined that yet! It seems those LP's worth sampling are truly rich with texture. I find this a harmonious affair, because I like the 'odd', 'bizarre' and 'texturally rich' music like nobody's business. So, a well sampled or potentially well sampled Lp is what I'm after.

 My first encounter with "2069 A Spaced Oddity" was through a compilation of folk funk and breaks which I believe was under the same name. It's a stellar pysch trip and a long slow spaced out groove. Not only epic in size, it's completely genius and fantastic, as is the whole Lp which you can find here.

At times they sound like an early Chicago and at other moments they sound like Gil Scott-Heron, which is a mighty impressive mish mash really. Yet, I think they predated both of those artists. Funny at times they even sound a bit like Kings Of Leon. I love finding exactly similar artists represented 10-20 years before. Like for example, The Cardigans and Blossom Dearie. Regardless, this is an above average psych LP with a lot of different directions represented. It's been reissued, which is good for you, but again adds to yet another story of me paying a pretty penny for something I HAD to have at the time. Not so good for me. I blame it on the compilation. But, be it a good comp or bootleg, it's totally worth it, sending you out in a manic fashion searching for something as golden as this LP. At that time, I NEEDED to hear what the rest of the LP sounded like, even if it only had one other gem. Enjoy!

US 69 - Im A Nobody
US 69 - Yesterdays Folks
US 69 - I Hear You Talkin
US 69 - 2069 A Spaced Oddity