Search - Crusaders :: Priceless Jazz

Priceless is the Key Word

NICKOLAS S KEELING | AUSTIN, TX United States | 08/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You may not be able to identify the melody instrument used by the crusaders. What you will hear is a tenor sax, played by Wilton Felder, playing with perfect intonation with the trombone of Wyane Henderson. This unique sound is encouraged by the fact that Wilton and Wyane played togeather since thier early teens. The heart of the Crusaders, Keyboard player Joe Sample dictates just how the Fender Rhodes was meant to be played. Joe playing with Steely Dan on "aja" along with Wilton showed how versitile they are. With "stix" Hooper on drums and the legendary Larry Carlton on guitar the Crusaders were one of the first groups that put Soul and funk into jazz. Many times talked about as the original seventies jazz-funk band. I wasn't born until the eighties im glad my parents introduced be to the band from Houston Texas. The Crusaders became my favorite band while still in middle school. A popular song in the late eighties-early seventies "Street Life" starts off this album. The funky tune is sung by Randy Crawford. A classic by the Crusaders "Soul Shadows",is sung by Bill Withers. What may have been the begining of hiphop "keep that same old feeling", also apears on this album. "Chain Reaction", a title cut from a previous album is just about the funkiest song I have ever heard. This album is esential to the jazz fan, aswell as soul, funk, as well as hip hop fans."

"Way Back Home"

cuffchild | Bristow, VA United States | 04/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's funny how things come full circle. These are songs which my father purchased on "vinyl" an played on Friday evenings when his "crew" came over. Now w/ the "reunion tour", which we are seeing in June, I'm on board now. This CD was is a great "revival" for fans such as my father and great "re-introduction" for childern who couldn't appreciate what they where listening to because they could only here the Jacksons, Ohio Players and Kool and the Gang, et. al. Though familiar with "Keep that feelin'", I had to listen to "Serenity" and "Chain Reaction" twice to really understand how much I had missed and how "brainwashed" I was becoming about today's "concept" of Jazz."