Classic Pacific Jazz Albums (CD)

Formed in 1956 by Joe Sample (piano), Stix Hooper (drums), Wilton Felder (saxophone), and Wayne Henderson (trombone) - buddies from an early age out of Houston, Texas - The Jazz Crusaders had all been schooled in local centres of prayer. They first performed together at one of the city's Creole churches, where they began to define their sound. The blend of Jazz, Blues and Soul which the young quartet developed throughout this formative period remained their default style during their early career. Having tried a number of short-lived names such as The Swingsters and The Nite Hawks, the founding members relocated to Los Angeles. On arrival, they stayed with family and friends, often sharing one room between them with a couple of mattresses on the floor. After changing their name to The Jazz Crusaders in 1961 (a nod to jazz great Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers), the group signed with Pacific Jazz Records, a label with whom they would remain throughout the 1960s. Fronted by a two man horn section featuring trombone and tenor sax, the group's sound was by now rooted in hard bop, with a nod still to R&B and soul. As The Jazz Crusaders, they released over a dozen albums before re-christening themselves The Crusaders in 1971, under which moniker they released a string of further albums in the jazz-fusion style, popular during the 1970s. This four disc boxset brings together the first eight albums by the Jazz Crusaders; all recorded for Pacific Jazz Records during the first half of the 1960s. Still held in huge esteem by Jazz critics and enthusiasts alike, this 4 CD collection, featuring over 5 hours of superb jazz, serves as both an ideal introduction to the Jazz Crusaders music, and as a welcome reminder of the group's majesty, musicianship and style for those already well versed.

Track List

1. The Geek
2. M. J. S. Funk
3. That's It
4. Freedom Sound
5. Theme from 'Exodus'
6. Coon
7. M. J. S. Funk (Alt. Version)
8. Coon (Alt. Version)
9. Big Hunk of Funk
10. Tonight
11. 507 Neyland
12. Till All Ends
13. Tortoise and the Hare
14. In a Dream
15. Sinnin' Sam
16. Song of India
17. The Young Rabbits
18. Congolese Sermon
19. Cathy's Dilemma
20. Blues for Ramona
21. Weather Beat
22. Scandalizing
23. Appointment in Ghana
24. Deacon Brown
25. Turkish Black
26. Brahms Lullaby
27. Brother Bernard
28. Boopie
29. Tough Talk
30. No Name Samba
31. Lazy Canary
32. Lonely Horn
33. On Broadway
34. Green Back Dollar
35. Close Shave
36. Free Sample
37. Mr Sandman
38. Heat Wave
39. Sassy
40. Theme from 'The L Shaped Room'
41. Some Samba
42. Stix March
43. Purple Onion
44. Spanish Castles
45. Blues for Yna Yna
46. Damascus
47. 3-4 for God and Co
48. Bluesette
49. Big City
50. This Here
51. Jitterbug Waltz
52. All Blues
53. Jazz Waltz
54. Long John
55. Robbin's Nest
56. You Are Only Sometimes Rain
57. Out Back
58. Bachafillen
59. I'll Remember Tomorrow
60. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
61. Sweetwater
62. The Thing
63. Sunset in Mountains
64. While the City Sleeps
65. White Cobra
66. New Time Shuffle
67. Para Mi Espoza
68. Soul Kosher