Showing posts with label Steve Gray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Gray. Show all posts

Sunday, November 2, 2025

Bruton Music Library • BRH10 Blow Out

 



This collection is more in a fusion-jazz mode, with longer selections than what is typically offered on Bruton sets. The bulk of the contributions are provided by Steve Gray, most of whose selections do not disappoint, and of which “Struttin” is the highlight. Some of it, particularly the opener “Golden Groove”, recalls some of Grover Washington Jr.’s work particularly around the age of Skylight when “smooth jazz” was not yet quite a radio format, but the first recordings truly in such a mode were recorded. Frank Ricotti includes what sounds much like a vocoder scat vocal atop his “Supersamba”, and Paul Keogh’s “Uproar In Rio” will be much of interest to break fans, with the lively percussion all over the place.

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Esta colección está más en el modo de fusión-jazz, con selecciones más largas de lo que se suele ofrecer en los sets de Bruton. El grueso de las contribuciones lo aporta Steve Gray, la mayoría de cuyas selecciones no decepcionan, y de las cuales "Struttin" es la más destacada. Algunas de ellas, en particular la primera "Golden Groove", recuerdan a algunos de los trabajos de Grover Washington Jr. sobre todo en la época de Skylight, cuando el "smooth jazz" aún no era un formato radiofónico, pero se grabaron las primeras grabaciones realmente en esa modalidad. Frank Ricotti incluye lo que suena como un vocal vocoder scat en su "Supersamba", y "Uproar In Rio" de Paul Keogh será muy interesante para los aficionados al break, con la percusión animada por todas partes.



Saturday, August 9, 2025

VA • Time To Fly - KPM 1000 Series Compilation [1970-76]

 



Soaring grooves from the legendary KPM Sound Library -- a set of tunes that sparkles with all the charm and glamour of early 70s air travel! The title and cover really fit the spirit of the music here -- as most of the tracks are upbeat and sky-flying -- the sorts of numbers that go way beyond the sleepier side of easy listening, and really show the way that Easy maestros of the 70s were picking up plenty of funky elements in their music! There's no hard funk tracks here -- as you might find on other sound library sets -- but there's definitely an undercurrent of groove, thanks to some well-chosen rhythms, strong use of electric bass, and an overall sense of flow in most of the orchestrations -- a feel that reminds us a lot of some of the excellent Brigade Mondaine compilations from a few years back. The package really offers up a different look than usual at KPM -- and the tunes are as classy as anything we might have loved years ago, on the legendary Sound Library collections. Titles include "Sun Lover", "The Great Outdoors", "Husky Birdsong", and "Towards The Sun" by Keith Mansfield; "Holiday People", "Soft Memories", "Gentle Breeze", "Summer Dreams", "Summer Season", and "Friendly Faces" by James Clarke; "Paradise Found" by Dick Doerschuk, "Silk Stream" by David Gold, "Busy Spectacle" and "Fun In The Sun" by Neil Richardson, "Sunseekers" by David Lindup, and "A Tender Touch" by Steve Gray.
https://www.dustygroove.com/item/503106/Various:Time-To-Fly-Easy-Listening-From-the-KPM-1000-Series-1970-to-1976