Raul De Souza - Sweet Lucy

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:31
Size: 95,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:27)  1. Sweet Lucy
(3:19)  2. Wires
(7:34)  3. Wild And Shy
(4:18)  4. At Will
(4:57)  5. Banana Tree
(6:17)  6. A Song Of Love
(4:25)  7. New Love
(5:09)  8. Bottom Heat

Raul De Souza is one of the mysteries of the jazz world. In the 1970s, it was obvious that the Brazilian trombonist had a lot going for him: a distinctive and appealing tone, major chops, versatility, and a lot of soul and warmth. So why did he mysteriously fade into such obscurity in the 1980s? In an ideal world, De Souza would have built a huge catalogue. But regrettably, his recording career was short-lived. Produced by George Duke, 1977's Sweet Lucy is the first of three albums that De Souza recorded for Capitol in the late '70s. Vocal-oriented funk jams like "Wires" and the title song (both written by Duke) are catchy, but the fusion and pop-jazz instrumentals are where De Souza really shines. When he stretches out on "Bottom Heat," "Wild and Shy," and other pieces that he composed himself, De Souza shows a great deal of potential as a soloist. The LP's weakest track is a performance of the Brazilian ballad "New Love (Cancão do Nosso Amor)," which finds De Souza attempting to sing. 

The song is gorgeous, but De Souza doesn't do it justice because, quite honestly, he can't sing calling his voice thin is being charitable. Besides, De Souza doesn't need to use his vocal chords to sing; he does plenty of "singing" with his trombone, and his command of that instrument makes Sweet Lucy an LP that is excellent more often than not. ~ Alex Henderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-lucy-mw0000869231

Personnel:  Trombone – Raul De Souza;   Backing Vocals – Deborah Thomas (tracks: 1, 2, 5), Lynn Davis (tracks: 1, 2, 5), Sybil Thomas (tracks: 1, 2, 5), Victoria Miles (tracks: 1, 2, 5);  Bass – Byron Miller, Embamba (tracks: 6, 7);  Drums – Leon Ndugu Chancler;  Guitar – Al McKay;  Keyboards – Dawilli Gonga (tracks: 1, 2, 6), Patrice Rushen;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Freddy Hubbard* (tracks: 2, 3, 8)

Sweet Lucy

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Sonny Rollins - Nucleus

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:19
Size: 94,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:08)  1. Lucille
(5:58)  2. Gwaligo
(4:08)  3. Are You Ready
(4:46)  4. Azalea
(5:17)  5. Newkleus
(7:20)  6. Cosmet
(7:40)  7. My Reverie

It has long been a disappointment to many longtime followers that Rollins's recordings of the 1970s and '80s were generally not at the same level as his earlier sessions. Nucleus is a case in point. This funky date (which also includes trombonist Raul DeSouza, Bennie Maupin on reeds and keyboardist George Duke) has its moments (including an updated version of "My Reverie") but falls far short of hinting at any new innovations. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/nucleus-mw0000312582   

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Bennie Maupin (tenor saxophone); Raul De Souza (trombone); George Duke (piano, synthesizer); David Amaro, Black Bird (guitar); Bob Cranshaw, Chuck Rainey (bass); Roy McCurdy, Eddie Moore (drums); Mtume (percussion).

Nucleus

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Azar Lawrence - Summer Solstice

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:31
Size: 93,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:52)  1. From The Point Of Love
(6:39)  2. Novo Ano
(6:52)  3. From The Point Of Light
(9:24)  4. Summer Solstice
(9:42)  5. Highway

Azar Lawrence (born November 3, 1952) is an American jazz saxophonist, known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist Tyner used following John Coltrane's death.Lawrence released Summer Solstice on Prestige Records in 1975, produced by Orrin Keepnews. It featured Raul de Souza, Gerald Hayes, Amaury Tristão, Dom Salvador, Ron Carter, Guilherme Franco on the songs "Novo Ano" and "Highway" which were composed by Amaury Tristão, and Lawrence, Souza, Albert Dailey, Carter and Billy Hart on all other selections.Bridge Into The New Age featured Jean Carn, Woody Shaw, Ray Straughter, Woody Murray, Clint Houston, Billy Hart, Guillerme Franco, Julian Priester, Hadley Caliman, Black Arthur, Joe Bonner, John Heard, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Mtume and Kenneth Nash. People Moving featured Patrice Rushen, Jerry Peters, Michael Stanton, John Rowin, Lee Ritenour, Paul Jackson, Jr., Harvey Mason, Ernest Straughter. Musician and screenwriter Herbert Baker taught music and mentored Lawrence, who recalled Baker as "one of the greatest pianists who ever lived." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azar_Lawrence

Personnel:  Azar Lawrence - saxophone;  Raul de Souza - trombone;  Albert Dailey - piano;  Ron Carter - bass;  Billy Hart drums.

Summer Solstice

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Raul De Souza - Voila

Size: 112,9 MB
Time: 48:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Brazilian Jazz
Art: Front

01. Por Aqui Por Ali (4:49)
02. Alibi (5:19)
03. Todas As Tribos (5:03)
04. Up Jumped Spring (6:29)
05. Ligia (4:53)
06. 10 Minutos (5:08)
07. Isabella (6:13)
08. Voila (6:07)
09. Viva O Rio (4:39)

Boasting a distinctive and highly appealing tone, Raul de Souza was a Brazilian trombonist who kept busy in the '70s but faded into obscurity in the '80s. De Souza, although essentially a jazz artist, was quite versatile -- he played his share of fusion, pop-jazz, and Brazilian jazz, but could also handle funk and disco. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 23, 1934, de Souza was employed as a sideman by some of Brazil's musical heavyweights in the '70s, including Sergio Mendez, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Milton Nascimento. The trombonist, who also appeared on '70s albums by Sonny Rollins and Cal Tjader, signed with Capitol in 1976, and his first Capitol session, Sweet Lucy, was released the following year. Both Sweet Lucy and de Souza's second Capitol date, Don't Ask My Neighbors, were produced by George Duke. But de Souza changed producers on his next album, 'Til Tomorrow Comes, which was produced by Arthur Wright and found the Rio native jumping on the disco bandwagon. Devoid of jazz, the 1979 release is pure disco. 'Til Tomorrow Comes was his last album for Capitol -- after that, he faded into obscurity. All three of de Souza's Capitol albums are out of print, although his 1974 recording, Colors, is available on CD as part of Fantasy's Original Jazz Classics series. ~Biography by Alex Henderson

Voila

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