Tag Archives: James Mtume

Mtume: Kiss The World Goodbye

In November 1978, “Epic” label released “Kiss This World Goodbye”, the debut Mtume album. It was recorded in 1978, at “RCA Studios” in New York City, and was produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas.

Personnel:

  • James Mtume – lead and backing vocals, congas, percussion
  • Tawatha Agee – lead and backing vocals
  • Reggie Lucas – guitar
  • Hubert Eaves III – keyboards
  • Basil Fearrington – bass
  • Howard King – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, except where noted.

  1. Theme (for the People) opening – Tawatha Agee, Reggie Lucas, James Mtume
  2. Just Funnin’ – Howard King, Reggie Lucas, James Mtume
  3. Kiss This World Goodbye
  4. Insert
  5. The Closer I Get to You
  6. Love Lock
  7. Funky Constellation
  8. Closer to the End
  9. Metal Flake Mind
  10. Phase I – James Mtume (subtitled 40 Seconds dedicated to all Conga Players)
  11. Day of the Reggin
  12. This Is Your World
  13. Theme (for the People) exit – Tawatha Agee, Reggie Lucas, James Mtume

Reginald Lucas

On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), songwriter and producer, started his career performing and recording with Billy Paul and Miles Davis. As producer, composer and sideman he worked with Madonna, Models, The Four Tops, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, John Adams, Elisa Fiorillo, The Weather Girls, Nick Scott, Stephanie Mills, Gary Bartz, The Spinners, Lou Rawls, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, James Mtume, Carlos Garnett, Norman Connors, Babatunde Olatunji, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zbigniew Seifert, Masabumi Kikuchi and Shunzo Ohno. As leader Lucas released two albums.

Don Cherry

On October 19, 1995, Donald Eugene Cherry died aged 58. He was a musician (trumpet), one of the pioneers in world fusion in the 60s and 70s. Cherry recorded and performed with a number of musicians and bands including Ornette Coleman, Paul Bley, Sonny Rollins, New York Contemporary Five, Naná Vasconcelos, La Monte Young, Abdullah Ibrahim, Carla Bley, Charlie Haden, Allen Ginsberg, Charles Brackeen, Codona, Albert Ayler, Clifford Jordan, Steve Lacy, Michael Mantler, Sunny Murray, Jim Pepper, George Russell, Sun Ra, Lou Reed, Charlie Rouse, Albert Heath, James Mtume, Herbie Hancock, Ed Blackwell, Steve Hillage, Collin Walcott, Latif Khan, Johnny Dyani, Masahiko Togashi, Bengt Berger, Rip Rig + Panic, Bengt Berger Bitter Funeral Beer Band, Dag Vag, Frank Lowe, Jai Uttal, and Ed Blackwell.

Reggie Lucas

On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas aka Reggie Lucas died aged 65. He was songwriter, musician (guitar) and record producer. As musician he has recorded and performed with Miles Davis, Carlos Garnett, Babatunde Olatunji, Norman Connors, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Hubert Eaves, Roberta Flack, Urszula Dudziak, James Mtume, Gary Bartz, Zbigniew Seifert, John Lee, Gerry Brown and Masabumi Kikuchi. As producer Lucas worked with Madonna, Mtume, Models, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, The Four Tops, John Adams, The Weather Girls, Elisa Fiorillo and Nick Scotti. In 1981, Lucas and James Mtume won a “Grammy Award” for “Best R&B Song” for their composition “Never Knew Love Like This Before”, which was performed by Stephanie Mills. As leader, Lucas has recorded two albums.

Roberta Flack: Blue Lights In The Basemant

On December 13, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “Blue Lights in the Basement”, the sixth Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, and was produced by Rubina Flake, Joe Ferla and Gene McDaniels.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack– vocals, keyboards, arrangements
  • Reggie Lucas– guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar, musical arrangements
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • David Spinozza– guitar
  • John Tropea– guitar
  • Paul Griffin– keyboards
  • Ronnie Foster– keyboards, background vocals
  • Don Grolnick– keyboards
  • Rob Mounsey– keyboards
  • Leon Pendarvis– keyboards, background vocals, musical arrangements
  • Harry Whitaker – keyboards, musical arrangements
  • Anthony Jackson– bass guitar
  • Basil Fearrington – bass
  • Will Lee– bass guitar
  • Gary King– bass, musical arrangements
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Allan Schwartzberg– drums
  • Jimmy Wong – drums
  • Howard King – drums
  • Idris Muhammad– drums
  • Crusher Bennett – percussion
  • David Carey – percussion
  • Jimmy Maelen– percussion
  • James Mtume– percussion, background vocals
  • Michael Kamen– oboe solo, musical arrangements
  • Jim Gilstrap, Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Yvonne Lewis, Gene McDaniels, Zach Sanders, Brenda White, Deniece Williams– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Why Don’t You Move in with Me – Gene McDaniels
  2. The Closer I Get to You – Reggie Lucas, James Mtume
  3. Fine, Fine Day – Rachel Perry
  4. This Time I’ll Be Sweeter – Pat Grant, Gwen Guthrie
  5. 25th of Last December – Gene McDaniels
  6. After You – Michael Masser, Ron Miller
  7. I’d Like to Be Baby to You – Morgan Ames
  8. Soul Deep – Wayne Carson
  9. Love is the Healing – Gene McDaniels
  10. Where I’ll Find You – David McHugh

Miles Davis: Big Fun

Big_Fun

On April 19, 1974, “Columbia” label released “Big Fun” a double album by Miles Davis. It was recorded November 1969; February and March 1970, and June 1972, at “Columbia Studios B and E”, and was produced by Teo Macero.

Personnel:

  • Miles Davis– trumpet, electric trumpet with wah wah
  • John McLaughlin– guitar
  • Khalil Balakrishna– electric sitar
  • Bihari Sharima– tamboura
  • Lonnie Liston Smith– piano
  • Harold I. Williams, Jr. –piano
  • Joe Zawinul– electric piano
  • Chick Corea– electric piano
  • Herbie Hancock– electric piano
  • Larry Young– organ, celeste
  • Sonny Fortune– soprano saxophone, flute
  • Carlos Garnett– soprano saxophone
  • Steve Grossman– soprano saxophone
  • Wayne Shorter– soprano saxophone
  • Bennie Maupin– clarinet, flute
  • Bennie Maupin– bass clarinet
  • Dave Holland– electric bass guitar, double bass
  • Harvey Brooks– electric bass guitar
  • Michael Henderson– electric bass
  • Billy Cobham– triangle, drums
  • Jack DeJohnette– drums
  • Al Foster– drums
  • Billy Hart– drums
  • Airto Moreira– cuíca, percussion, berimbau, Indian instruments
  • James Mtume– African percussion
  • Badal Roy– tabla
  • Seth Rothstein – project director
  • Frank Laico, Stan Tonkel – engineer
  • Russ Payne, Stan Weiss, John Guerriere – mixing
  • Corky McCoy– cover art

Track listing:

  1. Great Expectations – Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul
  • Great Expectations – Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul
  • Orange Lady – Joe Zawinul
  1. Ife – Miles Davis
  2. Recollections – Joe Zawinul
  3. Trevere – Miles Davis
  4. Go Ahead John – Miles Davis
  5. Lonely Fire – Miles Davis
  6. The Little Blue Frog – Miles Davis
  7. Yaphet – Miles Davis

Miles Davis: Get Up With It

Miles_Davis_get_up_with_it

On November 22, 1974, “Columbia” label released Miles Davis album “Get Up with It”.  It was recorded 1970 – 1974, at the “Columbia Studios E and B” in New York, and was produced by Teo Macero.

Personnel:

  • Miles Davis— electric trumpet with wah-wah, organ
  • Dave Liebman— alto flute
  • Pete Cosey— electric guitar
  • Reggie Lucas— electric guitar
  • Dominique Gaumont— electric guitar
  • Cornell Dupree— electric guitar
  • John McLaughlin— electric guitar
  • Khalil Balakrishna— electric sitar
  • Keith Jarrett— electric piano
  • Cedric Lawson— Fender rhodes, electric piano
  • Herbie Hancock— clavinet
  • Lester Chambers— harmonica
  • Michael Henderson— bass guitar
  • Al Foster— drums
  • Bernard Purdie— drums
  • Billy Cobham— drums
  • Airto Moreira— percussion,
  • James Mtume— percussion
  • Badal Roy— tabla
  • John Stubblefield— soprano saxophone
  • Carlos Garnett— soprano saxophone
  • Steve Grossman— soprano saxophone
  • Sonny Fortune— flute
  • Wade Marcus— brass arrangement
  • Billy Jackson — rhythm arrangement

Track listing:

All tracks by Miles Davis.

  1. He Loved Him Madly
  2. Maiysha
  3. Honky Tonk
  4. Rated X
  5. Calypso Frelimo
  6. Red China Blues
  7. Mtume
  8. Billy Preston