Weather Report | Sportin’ Life

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Weather Report, World Music

Weather Report

Weather Report | Sportin’ Life [Jazz/Fusion/Sony/1984] Classic Fusion | Import

I can’t believe people who knock this great album. They must be deaf or jazz-fusion snobs, which amounts to the same thing. This was my introduction to Weather Report and it is FAR SUPERIOR to anything else by any other band. The spirit is truly joyful and magnanimous and it shines through. I’ve played this record much more than some of the later Jaco records. “Pearl on the Half Shell” is one of their greatest tunes, the version of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” beautifully idosyncratic (done in one take), and the song with vocals, world music at its best.  ~ Source: Amazon.com

Kevin A. Williams | A Beautiful Soul

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African American, Art, Kevin A. Williams

Vivian Jones from Nashville, TN recommends a gifted new artist to viewers of The Urban Flux this week named Kevin A. Williams.

Kevin A. Williams’ art is widely circulated fine art. Diverse in its themes, the art is painted by Williams in mixed mediums, and then produced in limited edition quantities. Williams also creates a number of commissioned works annually.

As the best-selling artist in the African-American print market, Williams is a popular personality at national art shows, conferences of African-American groups and major international events, including the Essence Music Festival. His art has been featured on television’s Law & Order (NBC) and Soul Food (Showtime). ~ Source: Grandpasart.com

Kevin A. Williams | A Beautiful Soul [Lithograph]

Kevin A. Williams | Beautiful Soul

Take 6 | Fly Away

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African American, Gospel, Jazz, Take 6

We’re featuring for the first time at The Urban Flux, the vocal artistry of Take 6 as the “Vid of The Week.”

With a staggering eighteen Grammy-Award nominations, Take 6 is the most nominated Gospel, Jazz, Pop or R&B artists in Grammy history. Take 6 has received some of its highest praise from the music industry’s icons. Mega producer and longtime collaborator Quincy Jones, has described Take 6 as The baddest vocal cats on the planet. ~ Source: Antcreations.com

Christian McBride | Live at Tonic

Tags

African American, Bassist, Christian McBride, Fusion, Jazz, Ropeadope Records

Christian McBride, Live

Christian McBride | Live at Tonic [Ropeadope Records, 2006] Revisited

Ropeadope Records dropped a bomb with bassist Christian McBride’s three-disc release title “Live @ Tonic” recorded at Manhattan’s Tonic Club back in January 2006.

From the first spin, this adventure by McBride encapsulates the essence of what jazz is all about by embracing the freedom of expression! McBride and ensemble intensely swings with an infectious attitude while attached to funk induced rhythms of James Brown while infusing the symmetry of jazz-fusion masked by the band’s astounding play!