Customer Reviews

Rhythm of Life

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard this recording in 1977, I was mining the obscure Jazz labels for hidden treasures, and this jazzy funk/ groove item appeared , released by the Chiaroscuro label.

At the time, even as I kept the LP all these years, I thought it had the same "unfinished" quality I believe the 2 Shuggie Otis lps had, as if the record company didnt want to spend too much money on the musical "vision" of Mr Mason .

FUNNY FUNNY how things work, almost 25 yrs later, the minimalist approach to jazz and funk/soul as defined by the "acid jazz / new grooves" designation suddenly propels James Mason into the "visionary' category- he was doing these things back in the late 70's, as were Roy Ayers, Norman Connors, Lonnie Liston Smith, etc etc...... ( "these things" being Vamps and so -called "killer grooves" that take presidence over fully realized compositions. Sampling seems to me a major issue, it seems with many new fans for the evolution of this style ...)

NO SAMPLES HERE, just some like minded musicians puttin down a heavy vibe and playing "off of" one another, "interacting" instead of "interactive", if ya catch mah drift.........

JM proved a tough groover, adept at electric keyboards, funky guitar comping, and a "lead guitar" style very much in the 70's jazz/fusion mode.

A crack band, featuring the impeccable drums of Michael Walden, and the etherial vocals of Clarice Taylor, (with some guest spots by Philip Woo *piano* and Justo Almario's saxwork)--the session percolates with some firey grooves which meet with some nice modal progressions/ chord voicings that sound far more soulful than much of the sampled fare, you "FEEL" the musics pour from the musicians , pure magic!

"Sweet Power..." I believe is a dancehall hit now, and "Good Thing" , "Slick City", the lovely contemplative lyrics of "Dreams", I cant mention now each selection, but the cd runs track to track with pulsations& gesticulations , although the grooves can get a bit frantic on a few cuts.(the 70's were a hectic decade, hehehehe!)

Some of the tunes just "die out" at the end as if not the final take,"unfinished" as i said before is the impression i have. ---- but HEY, cant have everything, can you?

What has become of James Mason, I think I will take a look , meanwhile , take a "look/listen" to this cd.

The long awaited (and surprising) release of this wonderful recording pretty much finished off my list of "My Favorite Albums That I'll NEVER See On CD". I was a buyer for a wholesale music distributor at the time of its original release and I have no recollection of what drew me to it in the first place (other than a fanatic quest to discover great, obscure music) but it was one of the main reasons that I kept my turntable hooked up even as friends chided me for being so "quaint"! Way back then (1977) Billboard Magazine would call me (and dozens of other buyers) up for sales reports on which to base their Top 100 (etc) charts and this was one of the few times that I lied through my teeth about sales figures to try to help generate some "buzz" for the record. Didn't help but I did my best...

The recording sound is a tad under produced by today's standards but the soaring melodies driven by Mason's incredible compositional and musical talents, a FANTASTIC rhythm section and Clarice Taylors drop down dead gorgeous vocals more than make up for any technical shortcomings. I've tried for years to find out what happened to him after the release of "Rhythm Of Life" but have been unsuccessful thus far. Clarice Taylor went on to record for an artist, whose name escapes me now, on Tomato Records in the late `70's and then seemed to drop out of sight as well.

Fans of Incognito, "Acid Jazz" in general and perhaps Swing Out Sister will probably find this recording to their liking although "Rhythm Of Life" has somewhat of a more Progressive/Jazz/Funk vibe to it.

Obviously this is not the actor James Mason, but this mind movie is made by Roy Ayres guitarist of the same name.

This album has a funk disco feel, but when I say this, I am not talking about mirror ball glitter, but a danceable, 1970s CTI feel. Rhythm Of Life is covered by early synthesizers, and grooves you can step to, but glide with a cool vibe and not a mirror ball stomp.

The title track reminds me of listening to late 1970s FM radio: one of those amazing and novel detours a well versed DJ would take, back when DJs could cook sets the way they pleased.

The rest of Rhythm Of Life does not have quite the grip of the title track, but with excellent female vocals and tight as a right foot step playing, the whole album has a compelling grip you will be digging on for a long time.

===I'd like to introduce you to the Bill Nicholas free form sandwich. If I have any consistent readers, they may know I talk about free form FM and all music being connected. I thought it might be fun to think of a three song set with something from an album I am reviewing put into an interesting context. It is just a possibility of millions, but might be a fun departure point. I'm hungry to, so feel free to feed me alternate sandwiches in the comment section


Today's is

Beatles: Back In The USSR
James Mason: Sweet Power Your Embrace
Elliot Randal: Sour Flower

there are always rare albums that you ever hear about.alot of the time you have to take yourself&dig through some crates to find something that everybody ain't talking about. this album is just that.Roy Ayers Guitarist James Mason brings the Heat on this tight album. now some of the tracks don't get the finishing touchings that Roy Ayers is so known for,but this Album has alot of cooking tracks.good thing slick city are tight grooves. there are alot of vamps here that will keep your head bopping.i dig the arrangements alot on here as well.