Continuum – A Journey Through Jazz
Episode 72: Jazz Funk 1978, Part 10
Welcome to another edition of Continuum – A Journey Through Jazz . . . and the 10th in a series dedicated to my own “origin story” – the music that got the Jazz Evangelist interested in jazz in the first place. This leg of the journey takes us into the realms of 1978. A dark year of disco for some . . . but a glorious year of jazz funk grooves for me.
It wasn’t just one artist, group or style that turned me on to jazz – but a collection of grooves that allowed me to sink my soul into the music. That’s why I’m presenting this series, in the hopes that some of these songs may lead others down the same glorious path. The ten episodes in this series include most of the music that allowed me to find my own entryway into the Jazz Continuum – making jazz accessible & exciting when I had no idea what it was.
The initial journey lasted from 1975 to around 1982 . . . when I narrowed my taste and became a straight ahead jazz snob for a decade – but the initial phases brought me in touch with a lot of great music which I now embrace wholeheartedly . . . even if some may consider it beneath the dignity of whatever they define as “jazz”.
To that end I present 23 grooves of the jazz funk variety from 1978 including blast from the past by Weather Report, Lenny White, Dexter Wansel, Chick Corea, Jeff Lorber Fusion, George Duke, Raul De Souza, Willie Bobo, Banda Black Rio, Aquarian Dream, Pleasure, Eddie Russ, Brothers Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Sea Level, Wilton Felder, Quincy Jones, Average White Band, Rhythm Heritage, Ronnie Laws, Grover Washington Jr., Montana & The Crusaders.
If you have any particular favorites from the Jazz Continuum circa 1978 please let me know by writing to Scott@SoulandJazz.com. I would also love to connect with you via Facebook & Twitter . . . just look for the Jazz Evangelist.
Agape ya’ll,
J. Scott Fugate, ‘The Jazz Evangelist’
Continuum – A Journey Through Jazz
Episode 72: Jazz Funk 1978, Part 10
Artist – Track – Album – Year
Weather Report River People Mr. Gone 1978
Lenny White Lockie’s Inspiration / I’ll See You Soon Streamline 1978
Dexter Wansel Voyager Voyager 1978
Chick Corea Fickle Funk Secret Agent 1978
Jeff Lorber Fusion Proteus Soft Space 1978
George Duke We Give Our Love Don’t Let Go 1978
Raul De Souza Daisy Mae Don’t Ask My Neighbors 1978
Willie Bobo Always There Hell Of An Act To Follow 1978
Banda Black Rio Expresso Madureira Gafieira Universal 1978
Aquarian Dream You’re A Star Fantasy 1978
Pleasure No Matter What Get To The Feeling 1978
Eddie Russ Take A Look At Yourself Take A Look At Yourself 1978
Brothers Johnson Streetwave Blam!! 1978
Herbie Hancock I Thought It Was You Sunlight 1978
Sea Level Fifty Four On The Edge 1978
Wilton Felder Let’s Dance Together We All Have A Star 1978
Quincy Jones Poppy Girls The Wiz Original Soundtrack 1978
Average White Band Sweet And Sour Warmer Communications 1978
Rhythm Heritage Skippin’ Sky’s The Limit 1978
Ronnie Laws Love Is Here Flame 1978
Grover Washington Jr. Do Dat Reed Seed 1978
Montana Warp Factor II
A Dance Fantasy Inspired By Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1978
Crusaders Bayou Bottoms Images 1978
Background Music:
Earth, Wind & Fire Runnin’ (Original Hollywood Mix) All ‘n All 1977
Podcast: Download
