More Fraykers Revenge with Alessandro Alessandroni - Sangue Di Sbirro OST, Filmation Associates Inc, and Kung Fu Funk

 

With these library records it's always a tough slog: high workload with a low yield, with generic themes over standard rhythms and the compiler here seems to have a taste or preference for simple chord changes and basic melodies overlying admittedly very funkadelic beats.

From the well known Alessandroni whom I adore, the title track (at least that's what I think it is)bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Theme from Shaft:

From the Filmation album, Frustrations:

From Kung Fu Funk, The Connection with its lovely Shaft (again) wahwah guitar opening:

Fraykers Revenge, by request, with the 2 Schoolhouse Big Band

 

Here are two compilations I've always really loved deeply. In fact I used them to get the original LPs for many of these bands and others because of their high quality have appeared in this blog anyways such as Gustav Brom.  From Vol. 1 of course I've posted NTSU (multiple links), Humber College, Miami Univ., Towson State, and from Vol. 2 the legendary Peabody track, here.  Oddly enough, I didn't post the Prague Big Band but I have all their stuff and probably should post that one.

One track from the first series that always blew me away is from the Sounds of the Seventies Orchestra and their Time Rhyme, and I guess the reason I never bought that LP was because it looks to be reconstituted from a bunch of tired old hits like Your Song:

I mean, just dig that groovy disco plus strings sound.

Also, from the second volume, the Fritz Pauer Brooklyn Bridge track which is just phenomenal I haven't been able to locate in its original LP habitat.

Piano Choir's two albums Handscapes from 1973 and 1975

Honestly the days where we'd discover such pure progressive lost album treasures / pleasures are long gone, for the most part, and sadly so.  I did do a review of this way back when in 2015 but oddly enough never shared it, which doesn't do it justice.  It's a brilliant pair of albums, databased here, that showcases really stunning playing plus some pretty original composition as well, though at times, the numbers of hands/fingers creates a kind of jumbled up, garbled sound of mumbo-jumbo. Admittedly there are some improvised or free jazz tracks, but especially when they pull out the synths or electric keys there are some really great passages, recalling the beautiful George Gruntz Piano Conclave and 2001 Keys albums.

Here's the review from back in the day:

The group consists of the following musicians: Danny Mixon, Harold Mabern, Hugh Lawson, Nat Jones, Sonelius Smith, Stanley Cowell, Webster Lewis.  The full information can be found on discogs.  First of all going quickly over that tracklist you can be sure we are dealing with some very ambitious progressive music here, just from perusing the titles.  The wonderfully named Hugh Lawson composition Ballad For The Beast From Bali-Bali starts with grand piano and synth noodling, but without hesitation moves into the arena of George Gruntz's wonderful piano conclave: intense, odd, fusiony, and oh-so interesting.  The track that follows, Sonelius Smith's The Need to Smile threw me to the floor with the opening mellotron strings soprano touches, as an electric piano plays an almost dissonant obligato in a different key, the different keyboards (electric, synth, acoustic) charm us with their weaving together of a complex pattern, like one of those richly hued arab carpets full of colors and geometry:





And that title!  yes, listening to these consummate artists, there is indeed a need to smile...

Barbara Ann is a gospel, Keith Jarrett-influenced acoustic composition by Webster Lewis.  This track and the first of side b were posted on soundcloud by Gianni.  The Prayer for Peace by Stanley Cowell, the last track, will shock you like an electrocution if you love polytonality and advanced-level, postgraduate composition.  It's a stunner.  I recommend it for teaching purposes at university schools of music-- advanced composition classes only for the most highly talented please.






"...seven consummate keyboard artists...together as one, and as one, together."

Their first record, a double LP, was available online and for me is somewhat more disappointing.  It's more meandering, sometimes completely free and improvised and less cohesively progressive.  Less generously it could be described as all over the place.

Melvin Sparks - Sparkling (1982), by request

 

Instrumental jazz guitar from this artist who made a handful of albums back in the day.

A track from the album called '75, Get ya Some:

Tayfun Karatekin and Stardust International Live in Stockholm (limited time only!!)

 

Recall I put up their very popular album recently here.  

A commenter mentioned this other release:

https://arsivplak.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-stockholm-1971

Live in Stockholm, concert recordings, 1971.

Tayfun; sadly he was cancer and only 36 years old when he passed away, 1982 (R.I.P).

Remastered by Arşivplak at Studio Arsivplak, 2019.

credits

released January 24, 2019

Others requested this but I'll only put up a very brief link out of respect  (-- rather out of disrespect :) 

-- ?)

I'll withhold criticism too, since it's made up of cover versions with a wide range from pop, a lot of Chicago, dixieland and other excruciating silliness, to annoying old standards (eg Call Me). Note that their original songs are missing, I guess those two years between really made a difference.