Idris Muhammad – Turn This Mutha Out (1977/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Idris Muhammad – Turn This Mutha Out (1977/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 38:19 minutes | 1,58 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Kudu Records / CTI Records

A great late 70s chapter in the career of funky drummer Idris Muhammad – moving into very different territory here than his early soul jazz with Lou Donaldson, and even his earliest solo material too! David Matthews arranged the tracks, and he’s given them a slick but soulful sound, with lots of spacey fusion elements, and a nice funky soul vibe that’s a bit similar to some of Larry Mizell’s work – stretched out in this great mix of grooves and deeper jazzier elements – even at a level that’s hipper than Matthews’ usual material from the time. Idris is at the core on percussion – and the lineup also includes Jeremy Steig on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Randy Brecker on trumpet, and Wilbur Bascomb on bass – and titles include the seminal “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This”, plus “Cambay Bolongo”, “Tasty Cakes”, “Crab Apple”, “Moon Hymn”, and “Say What”.

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Idris Muhammad – Power Of Soul (1974/2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Idris Muhammad – Power Of Soul (1974/2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 34:11 minutes | 1,27 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Kudu Records / CTI Records

This album is one of the reasons that Idris Muhammad is regarded as the drumming king of groove. Featuring the arrangements and keyboards of Bob James, the saxophone punch of Grover Washington, Jr., guitarist Joe Beck, trumpeter Randy Brecker, percussionist Ralph MacDonald, and the knife-edge slick production of Creed Taylor, this 1974 issue is a burning piece of deep, jazzy soul and grooved-out bliss. The funk flies fast and heavy, particularly on the title track (Jimi Hendrix’s tune), with soaring solos by Grover and James, who fall down in the groove to Muhammad’s powerful pace, setting from the heart of the pocket. Beck’s own solo is special in that he moves against the tempo just a bit, but that only increases the listener’s dependence on the groove of Muhammad. Clocking in at only 34 minutes it’s a perfect slice of the raw-onion emotion Muhammad was pulling down at the time. While there isn’t a weak track in the four, it’s Washington’s “Loran’s Dance” that takes the cake, even over Hendrix. While the former is dark and heavy, and the immediately preceding tracks by James and Beck, respectively, are light, fancy, free nods to Creed Taylor’s hoping for a jazz radio single, it’s “Loran’s Dance” that showcases not only Washington as an aspiring writer in his own right (this is only a year before Feels So Good and Mr. Magic appeared), but also as a talented interpreter of the edges where jazz and soul come together. James’ arrangements are tight, and everybody gets to solo with a little more freedom and grace. Muhammad keeps the pocket wide and Brecker and Washington dance all around in it as James plays the accents furtively. This is some easy-moving, yet musically complex jazz. There is great power in these four tracks to make you move or reflect or just tap your foot while nodding “yeah” at your speakers imperceptibly.

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Idris Muhammad – House Of The Rising Sun (1976/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Idris Muhammad – House Of The Rising Sun (1976/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 35:03 minutes | 1,45 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Kudu Records / CTI Records

This is yet another fine disc in the latest batch of Creed Taylor productions to once again see the light of day. Like so many of the others it comes from a time when Jazz was becoming a little more pop influenced – in the sense of soul type rhythms and horn riffs. This particular session has some particularly fine backing vocals reminiscent of those found on the Stax label. For all of these more commercial aspects the music herein is always tasteful and great for either listening or dancing to.

Idris Muhammad is one of Jazz’s ubiquitous percussionists, equally at home here or with more avant-garde musicians such as David Murray. The recordings under his own name are always a joy particularly in their diversity of style and influence. Muhammad seems to have technique in abundance but never allows it to interfere with his artistic integrity.
The other players here are all from the top drawer and there are many excellent soloists on display. No credit is given for the particularly fine trombone work but I assume it to be Fred Wesley who is listed amongst the personnel of the ensemble. Sanborn has some good passages and there is much fine guitar playing on display. The material is a good mixture of the original and the popular and the whole project is well worth the remarkably low purchase price. –Dick Stafford, MusicWeb International

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Idris Muhammad – Black Rhythm Revolution! (Remastered) (1971/2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Idris Muhammad – Black Rhythm Revolution! (Remastered) (1971/2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 35:41 minutes | 751 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

Black Rhythm Revolution! from 1972. an excellent drummer who has appeared in many types of settings, Idris Muhammad became a professional when he was 16. he played primarily soul and r&b during 1962-1964 and then spent 1965-1967 as a member of Lou Donaldson’s band. he was the house drummer at prestige records (1970-1972), appearing on many albums as a sideman. of his later jazz associations, Muhammad played with johnny griffin (1978-1979), Pharaoh Sanders in the 1980s, George Coleman, and the Paris Reunion band (1986-1988). he has recorded everything from post-bop to dance music as a leader for such labels as prestige, kudu, fantasy, theresa, and lipstick.

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Idris Muhammad – Peace And Rhythm (1971/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Idris Muhammad – Peace And Rhythm (1971/2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 33:42 minutes | 1,32 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

Although Idris Muhammad’s mid-’70s work on the Kudu/CTI labels has been what he’s most known for among crate diggers and jazz-funk afficionados, the drummer cut a widely varied path through jazz and R&B in the years leading up to them. Throughout the ’60s—after playing drums on Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill” (!)—Muhammad was a go-to sideman on Blue Note, Prestige, and Verve sessions for the likes of George Benson, Grant Green, and, most consistently, Lou Donaldson. In addition to gigs with these genre-defining soul-jazz artists, he also found his way onto Pharoah Sanders’ expansive Jewels of Thought. And if you were looking for a shorthand way to describe the two albums Muhammad cut for Prestige—Black Rhythm Revolution! in 1970 and Peace and Rhythm the following year—you could do a whole lot worse than “Lou Donaldson meets Pharoah Sanders.” On Peace and Rhythm, Muhammad and his band (which includes Ron Carter and Kenny Barron, as well as Virgil Jones, Clarence Thomas, and Melvin Sparks) move through some decidedly spacey jams that are remarkably similar in scope to what many contemporary jazz musicians are doing today with their fusions of cosmic spaciousness, free improvisation, and groove-oriented structures. At the time of its release, though, the 17-minute “Peace and Rhythm Suite” was utterly unlike anything else around, a side-long excursion into complex percussion, open-ended ambience, and free-blowing horns. Side two is a bit of a different story, with Muhammad working much more fastidiously in the pocket and the structures much more pragmatic and song-like. Not unlike the combo of Albert Ayler and his lyricist/singer wife Mary Parks, Muhammad gets a vocal/poetry assist from his spouse, Sakinah Muhammad (née Dolores “LaLa” Brooks, of the Crystals) on two of these tracks, “Brother You Know You’re Doing Wrong” (an anti-drug song) and “I’m A Believer” (a slow-burning piece of spiritual funk and definitely not a Neil Diamond cover). While these cuts aren’t as successful or as interesting as the rest of the album, they’re clear evidence of Muhammad’s versatility and range.

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Idris Muhammad – Black Rhythm Revolution! (Remastered) (1971/2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192,2kHz]

Idris Muhammad - Black Rhythm Revolution! (Remastered) (1971/2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192,2kHz] Download

Idris Muhammad – Black Rhythm Revolution! (Remastered) (1971/2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192,2 kHz | Time – 35:41 minutes | 1,43 GBGenre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

Black Rhythm Revolution! from 1972. an excellent drummer who has appeared in many types of settings, Idris Muhammad became a professional when he was 16. he played primarily soul and r&b during 1962-1964 and then spent 1965-1967 as a member of Lou Donaldson’s band. he was the house drummer at prestige records (1970-1972), appearing on many albums as a sideman. of his later jazz associations, Muhammad played with johnny griffin (1978-1979), Pharaoh Sanders in the 1980s, George Coleman, and the Paris Reunion band (1986-1988). he has recorded everything from post-bop to dance music as a leader for such labels as prestige, kudu, fantasy, theresa, and lipstick.
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