[Article] Progressive X Grooves Style Albums

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[Article] Progressive X Grooves Style Albums

Message par ProgressiveXGrooves »

Dear viewers and Funk-o-logy members,
INTRODUCTION

Jazzfunk ... Funkjazz ... Groove Heavy ... and further = Progressive X Grooves

Progressive X Grooves – definition of a ( new ) music style ? What is a Progressive X Grooves style album ? Combining progressive rock and groovy elements ! I have done some research here we go:

JON ANDERSON ( YES ) – ANIMATION (1982)

Jon Anderson from progressive rock icon YES has always been an artist beyond boundaries. No coincidence one track on ANIMATION is called Boundaries ! Jon must have visited the clubs in the early 80s, because tracks like Unlearning / Pressure Point / Much Better Reason / All Gods Children have really groovy elements like vocoders, funky bass guitar and funky rhythms next to progressive rock. Progressive X Grooves style album !

JON ANDERSON ( YES ) – THE MORE YOU KNOW (1998)

Jon Anderson was open minded for other music. For his solo project he could do this. This time groovy music in the Urban / R & B category ! Similar to the 90s when R & B music was growing into larger audiences with ... yes … true … BIG sales ! Jon Anderson was luckily NEVER into commercial music, but more ARTISTIC INTEGRITY. With producers Bobby and Francis Jocky he merged progressive rock with groovy R & B elements. Progressive X Grooves style album !


NICKOLAS ASHFORD and VALERIE SIMPSON – SO SATISFIED (1977)

Ashford and Simpson were at first arrangers and producers of groovy artists ( soul / funk ). They developed into ALMOST PERFECT arrangers with multi layered, pristine produced albums. So Satisfied was an UNDERRATED ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHT. Symphonic / progressive use of strings and orchestra over a groovy instrumental backing. This album was ALMOST IGNORED from Urban Radio and the public … people did not understand this music in the 70s. Progressive X Grooves style album !

NICKOLAS ASHFORD and VALERIE SIMPSON – STREET OPERA (1982)

Ashford and Simpson perfected and explored their style of So Satisfied on this album. On one complete side of an LP they played the title track Street Opera ! Like a Rock Opera this track was epic and in progressive rock style divided into part 1 – 4. This can be called Symphonic Soul or Progressive Soul heavily orchestrated. Progressive X Grooves style album !


BILL BRUFORD ( YES / KING CRIMSON ) – ALL HEAVEN BROKE LOOSE (1991)

A quote from All Music Guide – Full of unpredictability, subtle mood changes, touches of eccentric funk and a surprisingly creative use of electronic rhythms here and there. The drummer of progressive rock icons YES and King Crimson has made a Progressive X Grooves style album !


STANLEY CLARKE ( RETURN TO FOREVER / GEORGE DUKE ) – ROCKS PEBBLES AND SAND (1980)

A quote from All Music Guide – Side One of the LP contains the rock, while Side Two concentrates on the funk. But merging these styles two – into – one makes this album pioneering ! It clearly has the progressive rock guitar solos all over it. Check the epic 11 minutes track Story Of A Man And A Woman – guitar solos and adventurous keyboards and bass playing ! Progressive X Grooves style album !

BILLY COBHAM ( MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA ) – SIMPLICITY OF EXPRESSION … DEPTH OF THOUGHT (1978)

A quote from All Music Guide – drummer Cobham was at a crossroads in his career. Yes he certainly was. On this album he merges perfectly progressive rock with groovy elements. This goes far beyond jazzrock … this is a Progressive X Grooves style album !


GEORGE DUKE ( FRANK ZAPPA ) – FROM ME TO YOU (1977)

Playing keyboards in the band of Frank Zappa is a good musical and allround education ! The progressive rock lessons learned and a background in groovy music were combined in this artistic masterpiece ! The track Carry On has it all … listen yourself … and further the 10 minute epic Up On It / Down On It. Other tracks: Seasons / Sing It. Progressive X Grooves style album !


IAN GILLAND BAND ( DEEP PURPLE ) – CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE (1977)

A quote from All Music Guide – Gillan did make an effort to try different things and he was at his most experimental on Clear Air Turbulence. Using even the horn players of Earth Wind and Fire ( sort of saying :-) this is NOT just fusion jazzrock … this goes beyond that can be labeled a Progressive X Grooves style album !


BOB JAMES – SIGN OF THE TIMES (1981)

Starting with the track Hypnotique – this has the YES style vocal harmonies and even YES chanting, while instrumental it is crossing progressive and groovy elements. Sign Of The Times and Love Power have groovy but also progressive style harmony singing. Instrumental the album is full of odd time signatures ( check the progressive rock style guitar solo on Love Power !) AND grooves a Progressive X Grooves style album !


BOB JAMES – OBSESSION (1986)

GENESIS – INVISIBLE TOUCH meets groovy artists like Renee Diggs, Vaneese Thomas, Sharon Bryant and Lisa Fisher. It also had bass player extraordinaire Marcus Miller. This album combines the best of GENESIS - INVISIBLE TOUCH influences with the groovy elements of the 80s. Progressive X Grooves style album !


NYTRO – RETURN TO NYTROPOLIS (1979)

Progressive Soul or Symphonic Soul ? Producer Norman Whitfield was a pioneer in this music style ! The track to listen is the 13 minute Nytro Express / Return To Nytropolis. EMERSON LAKE and PALMER and YES like Minimoog solos are combined with sheer and epic grooves ! Progressive X Grooves style album !


RETURN TO FOREVER – ROMANTIC WARRIOR (1976)

A quote from All Music Guide – influenced by some of the progressive rock bands coming out of Great Britain notably YES and EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER. With a groovy drummer like Lenny White and a groovy bass player like Stanley Clarke you are Groove Heavy ! Check the 10 minutes plus tracks Romantic Warrior and Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant. But also the VERY INTENSE track Sorceress ! Progressive X Grooves style album !


JAMAALADEEN TACUMA DREAMSCAPE – SAME (1996)

A quote from All Music Guide – Jamaaladeen Tacuma has been one of the top electric bassists in a style of music that could be called Free Funk. His music is TOTALLY FREE with no boundaries ! The track Groove With An Attitude is sheer grooves, while tracks like Black Pearl / Dreamscape / Flashback have some progressive rock influences. Progressive X Grooves style album !


March 2011 started with FAMILY STAND with SANDRA ST. VICTOR - MOON IN SCORPIO (1991) saying this album combined YES - 90125 era with groovy elements of the 80s and 90s ... now some more albums ;)


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