Joan Bibiloni - Una Vida Llarga I Tranquila (1984)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Joan Bibiloni - Silencio Roto (1987)

Folk-infused, synth-y Spanish jazz-funk/lite fusion. My commute to work starts around 6:15-20 in the morning, which means that there are generally not a lot of cars on the road when I leave, and, for most of the year, the sun isn't even up yet. I have a couple of mixes specifically made for this dark, slightly eerie, but laid-back early morning commute, and this record's title track is the first song on one of them. (The next two songs, you ask? "Song for Sharon" by Joni Mitchell, and "Falling to Pieces" by Faith No More. I'm usually at work by the time "Falling to Pieces" fades out.) So take that as my overall assessment of the album. Also, please stick around till the end, things get pretty fucking weird and I wouldn't want you to miss it.

Track listing:

1. El Cumpleaños Se Jaimito

2. Unda Vida Llarga I Tranquila

3. El Aguacito

4. Lailala Lailala

5. Doble Volta

6. Sagitari

7. Jazmin 29

8. Una Vida Llarga I Tranqiula II

OK, Mr. Rich. With your fingers in the asses of the 4-star generals. This is your only chance to hear me, so listen up big. No more kissing toilet bowls. No more fingering the cold tits of bombs. Get out onto the street. There's better things to do. This is the Ralphie the Dog speaking to you. Life can be better than a pile of shit. Don't wipe us out now.

Also listen to:

Ian Carr's Nucleus - Out of the Long Dark (1978)

Steps Ahead - Steps Ahead (1983)

José Roberto Bertrami - Blue Wave (1983)

Extremely chill fusion led by Brazilian keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami of Azymuth fame. Makes me feel like I'm on a boat drinking wine.

Track listing:

1. Bye Bye Brasil

2. Chorodô

3. Partido Alto #2

4. Shot on Goal (Perigo de Gol)

5. Blue Wave

6. Parati

7. Sheds and Weeds (Barracos e Arbustos)

Somewhere totally else

Similar vibes:

Arthur Verocai - Arthur Verocai (1972)

Jarosław Śmietana - Talking Guitar (1984)

Gary Bartz - The Shadow Do! (1975)

Some of that sweet, that funky stuff from jazz saxophonist (and Baltimorean!) Gary Bartz. In addition to handling all vocals and playing synth, he brought in (among others) Michael Henderson, the Mizell brothers, and several members of Mtume, and the results are lush, smooth jazz-funk of the highest order.

Track listing:

1. Winding Roads

2. Mother Nature

3. Love Tones

4. Gentle Smiles (Saxy)

5. Make Me Feel Better

6. Sea Gypsy

7. For My Baby

8. Incident

I'm gonna get ya

More like this:

Dave Valentin - Land of the Third Eye (1980)

George Howard - Asphalt Gardens (1982)

Stu Goldberg - Fancy Glance (1979)

Related:

Jasper van 't Hof - Eye-Ball (1974)
John Lee & Gerry Brown - Infinite Jones (1974)

Funky, synth-heavy fusion led by keyboardist/pianist Stu Goldberg. It's really good. Would have been posted years ago but I couldn't find a clean rip until today.

Track listing:

1. That's the Joint

2. Night of the King

3. The Mypsy

4. Tears (Bass Solo)

5. Pokhara

6. What Is It

7. Sangre Caliente

8. Organism

Oh, what a time we had

You'd also like:

Oliver Nelson - Skull Session (1975)

Stone Alliance - Stone Alliance (1976)

Michel Herr, Bill Frisell, Vinton Johnson, Kermit Driscoll - Good Buddies (1978)

Related:
Bill Frisell - Rambler (1984)

How 'bout a little fusion to liven up your otherwise oppressively hopeless existence? And how did I only just find out earlier today that Bill Frisell plays on a bunch of The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull? Crazy. Discovering that made me want to hear maybe some more obscure Frisell stuff, which led me to Good Buddies. Features, among others, Frisell on guitar, and gratuitous nudity on the album cover.

Track listing:
1. Acapulco Bells
2. Frog Legs Vampin' in the Moonlight
3. I Think I Know What You Mean
4. Sans Blues Thank You
5. What Do You Mean, What Do You Mean?
6. Good Buddies

Smile on you

You should also listen to:

Paul Horn -
Dream Machine (1978)

Cam Newton -
Welcome Aliens (1980)

Jasper van 't Hof - Eye-Ball (1974)

Related:
John Lee & Gerry Brown - Infinite Jones (1974)

Tasty jazz fusion led by Dutch keyboardist Jasper van 't Hof and featuring a killer band. This record has gone through at least three album covers (not to mention being labeled Eye Ball, Eye-Ball, and Eyeball) so I'm just going with the one I like the most, which is from the 1980 reissue.

Track listing:
1. Bax
2. Viber Snake
3. Eyeball I (Piano Solo)
4. Hyrax
5. Schwester Johanna
6. Laur
7. One Leg Missing
8. Eyeball II (Piano Solo)
9. The Rev

Night after the day before

Also listen to:

Cam Newton -
Welcome Aliens (1980)

Spaces -
Border Station (1981)

James Clarke - Mystery Movie (1974)

Breezy, quietly haunting, jazz-funk-rooted sounds from keyboardist/composer James Clarke. Sweet-ass grooves, breakbeats galore, fuzzed-out guitars -- essentially, a brilliant soundtrack for a blaxploitation or giallo film that never existed. And it looks like it got reissued just a few months ago and there are still copies available -- get yours here.

Track listing:
1. Mystery Prelude
2. Car Patrol (Title Sequence)
3. Breathless
4. Breathless (Short Version)
5. Waiting Game
6. Mystery Moll
7. Mystery Movement
8. The Heavies
9. Dirty Scene
10. Study in Fear
11. Empty Streets
12. Night Watch
13. Foot Patrol
14. Quiet Girl
15. Relaxed Scene
16. Routine Procedure
17. Quietness Sustained

Long burn the fire

You should also hear:

Stone Alliance -
Stone Alliance (1976)

Various Artists -
The Films of Jean Rollin (1994)

Jerry Peters - Blueprint for Discovery (1972)

A gloriously sprawling soul-funk odyssey courtesy of New Orleans composer/producer/singer/multi-instrumentalist Jerry Peters. How such a wonderful song cycle slips between the cracks is anyone's guess -- it certainly doesn't help that's it's never been reissued -- but do your part and get hip to it, then help spread the gospel.

Track listing:
1. If You Leave Me Now (Prologue)
2. If You Leave Me Now
3. Long Before You and I
4. Did I Step on Your Heart
5. Going in Circles
6. Love Song
7. White Shutters
8. Kuri Monga Nuie (Big Black Dog)
9. Lest We Forget

Wherever I am
Yes, I love it

You should also hear:

Billy Paul -
War of the Gods (1973)

Angelo Bond -
Bondage (1975)

Deodato - Love Island (1978)

Funky, punchy fusion from Brazilian keyboardist/composer Eumir Deodato. A colorful, lush instrumental palette that includes keys, strings, guitars, horns, woodwinds, and more.

Track listing:
1. Area Code 808
2. Whistle Bump
3. Tahiti Hut
4. San Juan Sunset
5. Love Island
6. Chariot of the God
7. Piña Colada
8. Take the 'A' Train

Very together

More like this:

Eddie Henderson -
Mahal (1978)

Lonnie Liston Smith -
Exotic Mysteries + Loveland (1978)

George Howard - Asphalt Gardens (1982)

Smooth AF debut LP from soprano saxophonist George Howard. Laid-back, smoky nocturnes and funky, uptempo grooves, with some vocals from the man himself.

Track listing:
1. Asphalt Gardens
2. Brand New (And All Made Over)
3. Rocket Love
4. Bright Eyes
5. The Preacher
6. Is This Commercial Enough for You?
7. As We Grow

I bet you won't sleep tonight
'Cause you're way too busy riding clouds of white

You'll also enjoy:

Caldera -
Time and Chance (1978)

Bernard Wright -
'Nard (1981)

Brick - Good High (1976)

Supreme Atlanta funk with strong disco vibes and an ever so slightly jazz-y aftertaste. Starts off strong, then just gets better and better. Get in the groove.

Track listing:
1. Here We Come
2. Music Matic
3. Dazz
4. Can't Wait
5. Southern Sunset
6. Good High
7. Brick City
8. Sister Twister
9. That's What It's All About

Make it super cool

You'd also enjoy:

Alphonso Johnson -
Yesterday's Dream (1976)

T-Connection -
Totally Connected (1978)

Stone Alliance - Stone Alliance (1976)

Untouchable, vivacious, Latin-tinged jazz-funk. Discovered this record, funnily enough, via a line in "Root Down" by the Beastie Boys ("I'm like 'Sweetie Pie' by Stone Alliance"), a song that also references Jimmy Smith, the Meters, and Dick Hyman.

Track listing:
1. Vaya Mulatto
2. King Tut
3. Duet
4. Sweetie Pie
5. Creepin'
6. Samba de Negro

So how you wanna kick it?

You'd also enjoy:

Oliver Nelson -
Skull Session (1975)

John Stubblefield -
Bushman Song (1986)

Herbie Hancock - Sunlight (1978)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Herbie Hancock - Sextant (1973)
Herbie Hancock - Thrust (1974)
Herbie Hancock - Secrets (1976)

Vocoder, synth, and levels of smoothness previously thought to be humanly impossible.

Track listing:
1. I Thought It Was You
2. Come Running to Me
3. Sunlight
4. No Means Yes
5. Good Question

You don't have to be afraid anymore

You should also listen to:

Ronnie Laws -
Pressure Sensitive (1975)

Dave Valentin -
Land of the Third Eye (1980)

Steve Reid featuring the Legendary Master Brotherhood - Nova (1976)

Explorative, funk-tinged jazz led by drummer Steve Reid. Loose, often cacophonous trumpet, sax, and keyboard solos over a heavy, relentlessly energetic rhythm section. One of my favorite jazz records.

Track listing:
1. Nova
2. Lions of Juda
3. Free Spirits - Unknown
4. Long Time Back
5. Sixth House

Growth sequence

More like this:

Norman Connors
Dance of Magic (1972)

John Lee & Gerry Brown -
Infinite Jones (1974)

Dave Valentin - Land of the Third Eye (1980)

Smooth-ass jazz-funk courtesy of American-Latin flautist Dave Valentin. One copy of this LP almost ended up sitting in a 100-count box in a dusty warehouse, surrounded by others like it, perhaps never to see the light of day again. But thanks to my sharp eye and quick actions, it's spinning on my turntable as I type this. That synth-bass breakdown in "Astro-March" = the sound of God speaking directly to us, assuring us that we are his most prized invention.

Track listing:
1. Sidra's Dream
2. Astro-March
3. Open Your Eyes
4. Fantasty
5. Land of the Third Eye
6. The Tellers
7. Pana Fuerte

I've got to hear it from you

You should also hear:

Paul Horn -
Dream Machine (1978)

Bennie Maupin -
Moonscapes (1978)

Paul Horn - Dream Machine (1978)

Super-chill jazz-funk courtesy of jazz flutist Paul Horn. Dangerously smooth.

Track listing:
1. Undercurrents
2. Dream Machine
3. Vera Cruz
4. Witch Doctor
5. Quite Early One Morning
6. The Juggler

Lines of space dust

You'd also like:

Flight -
Excursion Beyond (1980)

John Stubblefield -
Bushman Song (1986)

Don Blackman - Don Blackman (1982)

Heaven-sent boogie with sweet jazz undertones that shine through in the form of unorthodox, dissonant chords and some sick-ass piano work.

Track listing:
1. Yabba Dabba Doo
2. Heart's Desire
3. Holding You, Loving You
4. Deaf Hook-Up Connection
5. You Ain't Hip
6. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
7. Since You've Been Away So Long
8. Never Miss a Thing

Dooby-dooby-doo-wee!

If you like this, you should hear:

Bernard Wright -
'Nard (1981)

Roger -
The Saga Continues (1984)

Karin Krog, Steve Kuhn, Steve Swallow, & Jon Christensen - We Could Be Flying (1975)

Related:
Steve Kuhn Trio - Three Waves (1966)
Steve Kuhn - Trance (1975)
Harry Pepl, Harry Joos, & Jon Christensen - Cracked Mirrors (1988)
Ketil Bjørnstad, David Darling, Terje Rypdal, & Jon Christensen - The Sea (1995) + The Sea II (1998)

A solid-gold nugget of space-age jazz. Norwegian singer Karin Krog is front-and-center, while the rest of the band provides a seemingly endless supply of loose, propulsive, hella chill grooves and slowburners.

Track listing:
1. We Could Be Flying
2. Meaning of Love
3. Sometime Ago
4. All I Want
5. Sing Me Softly of the Blues
6. Raindrops, Raindrops
7. Lament
8. Hold Out Your Hand
9. Time to Go

A new kind of light surrounds us all

You should also hear:

Cortex -
Troupeau Bleu (1975)

Kimiko Kasai -
Butterfly (1979)

Bennie Maupin - Moonscapes (1978)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Bennie Maupin - The Jewel in the Lotus (1974)

Some space-y, synth-y fusion for a stoned Sunday.

Track listing:
1. Nightwatch
2. Farewell to Rahsaan
3. Anua
4. A Promise Kept
5. Just Give It Some Time
6. Sansho Shima
7. Crystals

You know the deal

You'll also dig:

John Lee & Gerry Brown -
Infinite Jones (1974)

Ian Carr's Nucleus -
Out of the Long Dark (1978)

Demon Fuzz - Afreaka! (1970)

A phenomenal fusion of psych, jazz, Afrobeat, and funk, courtesy of a a group of African ex-pats. Three things that are spooky about this record: 1) "Demon." 2) They cover "I Put a Spell on You". 3) Organ, organ, organ.

Track listing:
1. Past, Present, and Future
2. Disillusioned Man
3. Another Country
4. Hymn to Mother Earth
5. Mercy (Variation #1)
6. I Put a Spell on You
7. Message to Mankind
8. Fuzz Oriental Blues

I don't care if you don't want me
Cause I'm yours anyhow

Also check out:

Osibisa -
Osibisa (1971)

Cos -
Viva Bomba (1976)