Jazz Crusaders, The

2 LPs ON 1 CD + 1 BONUS TRACK

4 STARS DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE (Freedom Sound)
4 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE ( Freedom Sound)
4 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE ( Lookin' Ahead)

This release presents the Jazz Crusader’s first two albums in their entirety: Freedom Sound (Pacific Jazz ST-27), and Lookin’ Ahead (Pacific Jazz ST-43). Employing a two-horn front line (trombone and tenor saxophone), the group’s sound was rooted in hard bop, with an emphasis on R&B and soul. They would shorten their name to “The Crusaders” in 1971, when they decided to adopt a jazz-funk style. A long alternate take of “M.J.S. Funk” from the Freedom Sound sessions has been added here as a bonus. The 16-page booklet includes updated and original liner notes, as well as the complete Down Beat reviews for both albums.

PERSONNEL:

WILTON FELDER, tenor sax
WAYNE HENDERSON, trombone
JOE SAMPLE, piano
ROY GAINES, guitar on tracks 1, 4 & 16 only)
JIMMY BOND, bass
STIX HOOPER, drums

[1-6] & [16]: Freedom Sound Los Angeles, May 1961.
[7-15]: Lookin’ Ahead Los Angeles, late 1961.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01 The Geek
02 M.J.S. Funk
03 That’s It
04 Freedom Sound
05 Theme From “Exodus”
06 Coon
07 Song Of India
08 Big Hunk Of Funk
09 Tonight
10 507 Neyland
11 Till All Ends
12 Tortoise And The Hare
13 In A Dream
14 Sinnin’ Sam
15 The Young Rabbits
16 M.J.S. FUNK [alternate take] *

TOTAL TIME: 77:13 min