Mainstream Funk

Description

Wewantsounds continues its collaboration with Bob Shad’s label and presents a new selection of 12 handpicked tracks for the turntables, recorded between 1971 and 1975, with a superb mix of spiritual jazz, funk and soul played by Buddy Terry, Sarah Vaughan, LaMont Johnson and Johnny Coles. Mainstream Records was one of the most innovative independent jazz labels of the early 70s, alongside Flying Dutchman, Strata East, CTI and Black Jazz. Founded by a behind-the-scenes figure, the legendary Bob Shad (who had run Mercury Records and created EmArcy in the 50s), Mainstream focused on psychedelic music in the 60s before returning to Shad’s jazz roots in the early 70s, signing a new wave of jazzmen inspired by Coltrane’s music and Miles’s electric experiments. This gave rise to the cult Mainstream 300 series, with its distinctive sleeves and exceptional recordings, from which this selection is largely drawn. Giving many young musicians a chance, as well as a few old friends, Bob Shad succeeded in capturing the excitement of early 70s jazz, blending spiritual, funk and soul influences. It is interesting to note that the Mainstream sessions featured many of the most in-demand musicians of the time, such as Ron Carter, Eddie Henderson, Airto, Mtume, Earl Palmer, Mickey Roker, Merl Saunders, Cedar Walton, to name just a few. Bob Shad often worked with the greatest jazz divas such as Sarah Vaughan, who opens this selection with a funky version of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues” recorded the same year as the original in 1971. The tracks featured on Mainstream Funk were mostly recorded by young Turks who had cut their teeth as sidemen for Blue Note and Prestige in the late 60s. Buddy Terry’s “Quiet Afternoon,” Dave Hubbard’s “Family Affair” and LaMont Johnson’s “M’Bassa” are perfect examples of the label’s desire to give these talented newcomers a chance to record as leaders. Seasoned musicians from the bebop scene were also welcome, such as trumpeters Blue Mitchell - who had released a series of excellent albums on Riverside and Blue Note in the late 50s and 60s - and Johnny Coles, who had played with Gil Evans, Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock. Bob Shad also released soul on the label, such as Sugar Billy’s “Super Duper Love,” issued on his Fast Track Records sub-label in 1974, arranged by Jimmy Roach and featuring Marcus Belgrave in the lineup. Mainstream Records still has plenty of music in its vaults and Mainstream Funk is only the tip of the iceberg, a timely reminder that Bob Shad’s taste as a producer and talent scout was among the best on the scene.