Jazz Crusaders 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.

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