Jazz Soul Seven

about

While he may not be as recognized as Stevie Wonder or James Brown, Curtis Mayfield left an indelible mark on American popular music as a pioneering instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and R&B producer. His compositions—including the score for the iconic blaxploitation film Super Fly (1972)—are compelling, incorporating the heritage of urban soul and gospel music and providing socially conscious messages—commentaries on the Vietnam War, inner city poverty, drug abuse and the tumultuous struggles of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. His legacy is celebrated on Impressions of Curtis Mayfield by the Jazz Soul Seven, a band of ace jazz stars whose members include older and younger "groove aficionados" such guitarist Phil Upchurch and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. The band's depth and sophistication imparts Mayfield's genius with equal doses of soul and swing in sweet rebirthings of popular tunes ("Move On Up") and forgotten jewels ("Beautiful Brother of Mine"). The melodies are unspoiled, allowing for creative liberties such as Upchurch's smooth fretwork on "Keep On Pushing" or the Yellowjackets's pianist Russell Ferrante's perfectly phrased comps on the gospel-influenced "People Get Ready." The rhythmic foundation of the band is exemplified by the resilience of bassist Robert Hurst and Carrington's wonderful swing-walk drumming on the killer version (no pun intended} of "Freddie's Dead." Veteran horn masters Wallace Roney and Ernie Watts provide the juice with muted horn

top songs

albums

Impressions of Curtis Mayfield

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A Year With BFM Jazz 2012

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Jazz24

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Jazz Soul Seven

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Move On Up

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(2012-04-17) Impressions of Curtis Mayfield

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My Discovery Mix

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Jazz24 - World Class Jazz | Replaio

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Jazz24 - World Class Jazz

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Impressions Of Curtis Mayfield (Jazz Soul Seven)

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KPLU

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Some NPR Music Interludes 03-2014

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