Crusaders

[Jazz Kat]

I know they changed their name from the Jazz Crusaders..??

I liked their later style. Their earlier, more straight ahead style seemed like nothing new, and too latin based. Or at least the album I heard.

Where to start on their later material. What do you think?

[JSngry]

4 discs that hit most all of the highlights, including those of the Jazz Crusaders.

If you don't like compilations, the whole 71-79 run was pretty nice, from

to

.

The production got slicker and slicker during this run, but always in a good way, I think. "Jazz" was pretty much out the window by then, but sophistication wasn't. But pretty much all of the albums from those years do what they set out to do really well.

Live in Japan is a nice set too.

[Jazz Kat]

"Jazz" was pretty much out the window by then"

Can you elaborate on this?

[JSngry]

"Jazz" as in 4/4 walking bass, poppadiddlyBOP drumming, etc.

[Jazz Kat]

Oh. Yeah, I thought you meant they turned into Parliament or something. lol

[Guy Berger]

Was "jazz" as in "improvisation" always a part of their thing, or did they drop that at some point too?

Guy

[Jazz Kat]

I don't think they did.

[Cali]

Although they are from Texas, The (Jazz) Crusaders are pretty much an L.A. band. This is where they lived during their most powerful years. Basically, the members still live here.

Have seen them since they arrived in L.A. and through all their incarnations. I still like the 60's - early 70's stuff best. I think they made ONE latin based album.

The album I like best, LOOKIN' AHEAD, hasn't been released as a single cd. I believe it was their second album, right after FREEDOM SOUND. I don't know why record companies make the decisions they make on re-issues. LA should have been released years ago. Glad I have the vinyl.

[Jazz Kat]

"It seemed like the critics at the time looked upon us as not quite a jazz band. Our concept of bebop was quite different from all of the New Yorkers, the Detroit sound in that day. We always had a factor of rhythm and blues under the music. And it was very, very appealing to listeners.

--Joe Sample

[Harold_Z]

The run of albums Jim S. mentions is very good indeed. there was one earlier lp for Motown the name of which I can't remember - but it was KILLER ! Great version of "Spanish Harlem". the other tunes I rmember on it were "Papa Hooper's Barrelhouse Groove" and "Way Back Home".

[Jazz Kat]

They sound very exciting. I can't wait to hear more.

[Jim R]

4 discs that hit most all of the highlights, including those of the Jazz Crusaders.

If you don't like compilations, the whole 71-79 run was pretty nice, from

to

I don't really like compilations, and since I owned almost every (not the last few) one of those 70's LP's, I've often wished they had all come out on CD. I dig the earlier stuff as well, but I still haven't heard all of it.

Ah memories... I saw them twice- the first time in 1973 at "The Jungle Theater" (an outdoor venue) at Marine World, Africa USA (a zoo). Great show, though. I remember a wicked french horn solo by Wayne Henderson (I don't think anybody in the audience had ever seen a french horn ).

I wonder if I should have nominated Wayne in the "hippest, coolest stage presence" topic... "Wilton and I, we go wayyyy back, and we come way forward!"... "Scratch, DADDY?!"

Edited May 20, 2005 by Jim R

[Jazz Kat]

Does this mean I'll have a tough time finding those 70's albums?

[JSngry]

The run of albums Jim S. mentions is very good indeed. there was one earlier lp for Motown the name of which I can't remember - but it was KILLER ! Great version of "Spanish Harlem". the other tunes I rmember on it were "Papa Hooper's Barrelhouse Groove" and "Way Back Home".

[Noj]

In addition to the ones JSngry listed, I really dig The Second Crusade.

[Jazz Kat]

There's no bassist?

[Harold_Z]

The run of albums Jim S. mentions is very good indeed. there was one earlier lp for Motown the name of which I can't remember - but it was KILLER ! Great version of "Spanish Harlem". the other tunes I rmember on it were "Papa Hooper's Barrelhouse Groove" and "Way Back Home".

←

BINGO

Edited May 20, 2005 by Harold_Z

[JSngry]

There's no bassist? 

←

There was always a bassist. An upright in the old days, electric later on. For a while, Wilton Felder was playing the electric on the records.

[JSngry]

Does this mean I'll have a tough time finding those 70's albums?

Some, not all.

Do you have a turntable?

[Harold_Z]

A word about Wilton Felder's bass playing.

GREAT !

[BFrank]

I think these are available and would be my favorites from the 70's. Really strong jazz/fusion/funk........in a GOOD way, though.

Southern Comfort

Chain Reaction

These were Larry Carlton's best years, too.

[Free For All]

Another good one. Most of these seem to still be available.

[Jazz Kat]

Does this mean I'll have a tough time finding those 70's albums?

Some, not all.

Do you have a turntable?

←

Numerous ones. It's not so much the turntable, its the actual records. I have to check out my vinyl shop.

[sidewinder]

Don't forget too the upcoming Mosaic set of the Jazz Crusaders Pacific Jazz sessions. It's not often I pre-order but I did with this one.

[Jazz Kat]

Listening to Southern Comfort and Chain reaction now. Very pleasing!!