Tag Archives: Will Lee

Randy Brecker And Michael Brecker: Some Skunk Funk

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In November 2005, “Telarc” label released “Some Skunk Funk”, album by Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker. It was recorded in November, 2003, at the “Forum” in Leverkusen, Germany and was produced by Joachim Becker and Lucas Schmid. In 2006, “Some Skunk Funk” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo” (Michael Brecker) and “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album”.

Personnel:

  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Harold Rosenstein – alto saxophone
  • Heiner Wiberny – alto saxophone
  • Olivier Peters – tenor saxophone
  • Rolf Römer – tenor saxophone
  • Jens Neufang – baritone saxophone
  • Rob Bruynen – trumpet
  • Andy Haderer – trumpet
  • Rick Kiefer – trumpet
  • John Marshall – trumpet
  • Klaus Osterloh – trumpet
  • David Horler – trombone
  • Bernt Laukamp – trombone
  • Ludwig Nuss – trombone
  • Mattis Cederberg – bass trombone
  • Jim Beard – piano, synthesizer
  • Koji Paul Shigihara – guitar
  • Will Lee – bass guitar
  • Peter Erskine – drums
  • Marcio Doctor – percussion
  • WDR Big Band
  • Vince Mendoza – conductor, arranger
  • Peter Brandt – engineer
  • Klaus Genuit – mixing
  • Knut Schötteldreier – design
  • Ines Kaiser – photography

Track listing:

All tracks are written by Randy Brecker except where noted.

  1. Some Skunk Funk
  2. Sponge
  3. Shanghigh
  4. Wayne Out
  5. And Then She Wept
  6. Strap Hangin’ – Michael Brecker
  7. Let It Go
  8. Freefall
  9. Levitate
  10. Song for Barry – Michael Brecker

Patti Austin: Havana Candy

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On October 26, 1977, “CTI” label released “Havana Candy”, the second Patti Austin studio album. It was recorded in Austin 1977, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen.

Personnel:

  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals
  • Dave Grusin – acoustic and electric piano, slide whistle, synthesizers, arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Tee – acoustic piano
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – electric guitar
  • Steve Khan – electric guitar
  • Will Lee – electric bass
  • Francisco Centeno – electric bass
  • Anthony Jackson – electric bass
  • Frank Gravis – electric bass
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion, congas
  • Gerry Niewood – alto saxophone
  • Lou Marini – tenor saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Alan Rubin – trumpet
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Valentin – flute, timbales
  • Seymour Barab, Gene Bianco, David Davis, Peter Dimitriades, Regis Iandiorio, Theodore Israel, Jesse Levy, Charles Libove, Guy Lumia, Elliot Magaziner, Joe Malin, Richard Maximoff, Elliot Rosoff, Paul Winter – string section
  • Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Ullanda McCullough, Ken Williams – backing vocals
  • Larry Rosen – recording, mixing
  • Michael Frondelli – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Sib Chalawick – design
  • Alen MacWeeney – photography
  • Donna Putney – production coordinator
  • Tony Martell – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Patti Austin, except where noted.

  1. That’s Enough for Me – Patti Austin, Dave Grusin
  2. Little Baby
  3. I Just Want to Know
  4. Havana Candy
  5. Golden Oldies
  6. I Need Somebody
  7. We’re in Love
  8. Lost in the Stars – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill

The Brecker Brothers: The brecker Bros.

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In September 1975, “Arista” label released “The Brecker Bros.”, the debut Brecker Brothers (The) studio album. It was recorded in January 1975, at “Secret Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Randy Brecker.

Personnel:

  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Bob Mann – guitars
  • Don Grolnick – keyboards
  • Will Lee – vocals, electric bass
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Chris Parker – additional drums 
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Gerald Block – engineer, mixing
  • David Stone – mixing assistant
  • Leanne Ungar – mixing assistant
  • Bob Heimall – art direction
  • Arron Associates – design
  • John Paul Endress – photography
  • Steve Backer – executive produce

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Brecker, except where noted.

  1. Some Skunk Funk
  2. Sponge
  3. A Creature of Many Faces
  4. Twilight
  5. Sneakin’ up Behind You – Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Don Grolnick, Will Lee, David Sanborn
  6. Rocks
  7. Levitate
  8. Oh My Stars
  9. D.B.B.

Bob James: Three

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On September 3, 1976, “CTI” label released “Three”, the third Bob James studio album. It was recorded November 1975 and January 1976, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – keyboards, arrangements, conductor
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar solo, guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – guitar
  • Gary King – bass guitar
  • Will Lee – bass guitar
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Eddie Daniels – alto and tenor saxophone, flute
  • Grover Washington Jr. – soprano and tenor saxophone, tin whistle
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • John Frosk – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Bargeron – bass trombone, tuba
  • Dave Taylor – bass trombone
  • Jerry Dodgion – flute
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Frederick Buldrini – violin
  • Harry Cykman – violin
  • Lewis Eley – violin
  • Max Ellen – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • David Nadien – violin
  • Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Al Brown – viola
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • Alan Shulman – cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Rene Schumacher – design
  • Richard Alcorn – photography

Track listing:

  1. One Mint Julep – Rudy Toombs
  2. Women of Ireland – Seán Ó Riada
  3. Westchester Lady – Bob James
  4. Storm King – Bob James
  5. Jamaica Farewell – Lord Burgess

Don Sebesky: The Rape Of El Morro

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In July 1975, “CTI” label released “The Rape of El Morro”, the fourth Don Sebesky album. It was recorded April – May 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Don Sebesky – keyboards, arranger, conductor
  • Joan LaBarbara – vocals
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Barry Rogers, Sonny Russo – trombone
  • Tony Studd – bass trombone
  • Ray Beckenstetein – flute, alto flute, piccolo
  • Harvey Estrin, Walt Levinsky, George Marge, Al Regni – flute
  • Joe Beck – guitar
  • Don Grolnick, Roland Hanna, Pat Rebillot – keyboards
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Will Lee – bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • George Devens, Phil Kraus – percussion
  • Harry Cykman, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondi, David Rose – violin
  • Jean R. Dane, Manny Vardi – viola
  • Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Bob Ciano, Richard Mantel – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Don Sebesky, except where noted.

  1. The Rape of El Morro
  2. Moon Dreams – John Chalmers MacGregor, Johnny Mercer
  3. Skyliner – Charlie Barnet, Billy Moore Jr.
  4. The Entertainer – Scott Joplin
  5. Footprints of the Giant – based on themes by Béla Bartók, arranged and adapted by Don Sebesky
  6. Lucky Seven

Michael Franks: The Camera Never Lies

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On July 7, 1987, “Warner Bros” label released “The Camera Never Lies”, the tenth Michael Franks album. It was recorded in 1987, and was produced by Rob Mounsey.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals, banjo, guitar, mandolin
  • Hiram Bullock – guitar
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Steve Khan – guitar
  • Earl Klugh – guitar
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Georg Wadenius – guitar
  • Clifford Carter – piano, synthesizer
  • Richard Tee – piano
  • Mark Egan – bass
  • Neil Jason – bass
  • Will Lee – bass, backing vocals
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Robin Gould – drums
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Chris Parker – cymbals, drums
  • Dave Weckl – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – congas, percussion
  • Roger Squitero – caxixi, shekere
  • Lawrence Feldman – alto saxophone
  • Bill Evans – tenor saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – EWI, tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Rob Mounsey – flute, keyboard bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Michal Urbaniak – violin
  • Patti Austin – vocals, backing vocals
  • Kacey Cisyk – backing vocals
  • Art Garfunkel – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. Face to Face
  2. I Surrender
  3. The Camera Never Lies
  4. Lip Service
  5. When I Think of Us
  6. Island Life – Michael Franks, Rob Mounsey
  7. How You’re in My Dreams – Michael Franks, Clifford Carter
  8. Doctor Sax
  9. Innuendo

Spyro Gyro: Catching the Sun

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In February 1980, “MCA” label released “Catching the Sun”, the third Spyro Gyra studio album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Secret Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.

Personnel:

  • Jay Beckenstein – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, Fender Rhodes, percussion
  • Tom Schuman – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, synthesizers programming, effects
  • Jeremy Wall – synthesizers, synthesizer programming, percussion, effects, horn arrangements, assistant producer
  • Hiram Bullock – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Chet Catallo – electric guitar
  • John Tropea – acoustic and electric rhythm guitar
  • Will Lee – bass
  • Jim Kurzdorfer – bass guitar
  • Eli Konikoff – drums
  • Gerardo Velez – percussion, bongos
  • Richard Calandra – tambourine, percussion
  • Dave Samuels – marimba, vibraphone, steel drums
  • Rubens Bassini – congas, percussion
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • Tom Malone – trombone
  • Bob Malache – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Nathan – clavinet, synthesizer programming
  • Jeremy Wall – string arrangements, conductor
  • Harry Lookofsky – concertmaster
  • Charles McCracken, Jesse Levy, Alan Shulman – cello
  • Peter Dimitriades, Lewis Eley, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondim Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Michael Barry – engineer
  • Jack Malken – engineer
  • Jason Corsaro – assistant engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Peter Corriston – art direction, design
  • David Heffernan – illustration

Track listing:

  1. Catching the Sun – Jay Beckenstein
  2. Cockatoo – Jay Beckenstein, Tom Schuman, Jeremy Wall, Chet Catallo, Jim Kurzdorfer, Eli Konikoff
  3. Autumn of Our Love – Jeremy Wall
  4. Laser Material – Tom Schuman
  5. Percolator – Jay Beckenstein
  6. Philly – Jim Kurzdorfer
  7. Lovin’ You/Lovin’ You (for Christine) – Chet Catallo
  8. Here Again – Jay Beckenstein
  9. Safari – Jeremy Wall

Idris Muhammad: House of the Rising Sun

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On January 14, 1976, “Kudu Records” label released “House of the Rising Sun”, the fourth Idris Muhammad album. it was recorded May – October 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Eric Gale – guitar  
  • Joe Beck – guitar
  • Leon Pendarvis – piano   
  • Don Grolnick – piano 
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • Will Lee, Wilbur Bascomb – bass
  • George Devens – percussion
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • George Young – tenor saxophone
  • Bob Berg – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Harrell- trumpet
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • David Matthews – arrangements, conducting
  • Tom Harrell – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. House of the Rising Sun – traditional
  2. Baia (Boogie Bump) – Ary Barroso, Ray Gilbert
  3. Hard to Face the Music – Ashford & Simpson
  4. Theme for New York City (based on prelude No. 41) – Frédéric Chopin
  5. Sudan – Idris Muhammad, Tom Harrell
  6. Hey Pock A-Way – Aaron Neville, Greg Porter, Joseph Modelliste, Leo Nocentelli

Melissa Manchester: Singin’…

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On September 6, 1977, “Arista” label released “Singin’…” the sixth Melissa Manchester album. It was recorded in 1977, at “A&R Studios”, “Sound Labs” in Hollywood, and was produced by Vini Poncia.

Personnel:

  • Melissa Manchester – lead vocals
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • David Spinozza– guitar
  • Sid McGinnis– guitar
  • Don Grolnick– keyboards
  • James Newton Howard– Oberheim synthesizer, string arrangements
  • Will Lee– bass guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Lenny Castro– percussion
  • Tom Saviano – woodwind arrangements, flute, horn arrangements, tenor saxophone
  • Mike Carnahan – flute
  • Leo Potts – flute
  • Andy Macintosh – baritone saxophone
  • Stanley Schwartz – tenor saxophone
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Richard Felts – trumpet, flugelhorn solo
  • Sid Sharp – concertmaster
  • Vini Poncia– backing vocals
  • Claudia Cagan – backing vocals
  • Wendy Haas – backing vocals
  • Brie Howard – backing vocals
  • Gail Kantor – backing vocals
  • The Faragher Brothers– backing vocals
  • Bob Schaper – engineer
  • Tom Bush – second engineer
  • Galen Senogles – mixing
  • Ron Hitchcock – mastering
  • Kay Steele – cover coordinator
  • John Kosh – art direction, desiign
  • David Alexander – photography
  • Anne Streer – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Sad Eyes – David Spinozza
  2. I Wanna Be Where You Are – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
  3. A Love Of Your Own – Ned Doheny
  4. No One’s Ever Seen This Side Of Me – Melissa Manchester
  5. You Make It Easy – James Taylor
  6. Stand – Melissa Manchester
  7. My Love Is All I Know – Wendy Waldman
  8. Time – Robert Marshall, John Miles
  9. Let Me Serenade You – John Finley
  10. The Warmth Of The Sun – Brian Wilson

Carly Simon: Spy

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On June 30, 1979, “Elektra” label released “Spy”, the eight Carly Simon studio album. It was recorded December 1978 – April 1979, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano
  • Ian McLagan– acoustic piano
  • Don Grolnick– acoustic piano, clavinet
  • Warren Bernhardt– keyboards, acoustic piano, electric piano
  • Richard Tee– clavinet, electric piano
  • Ken Bichel– Polymoog, synthesizer
  • Cliff Carter – synthesizer
  • Billy Mernit – acoustic piano
  • Joe Caro – acoustic and electric guitar
  • John Hall – electric guitar
  • David Spinozza– acoustic and electric guitar
  • Frank Carillo– guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • Will Lee– bass
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Rick Marotta– drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion, congas
  • Raphael Cruz – cowbell, congas, percussion
  • Mike Mainieri– vibraphone
  • David Sanborn– alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Peter Ballin – alto saxophone
  • Lew Del Gatto – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Malone– trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Arif Mardin– horn, string and choir arrangement
  • Gene Orloff– concertmaster
  • Tim Curry– backing vocals
  • Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals
  • James Taylor– backing vocals
  • Lucy Simon – backing vocals
  • Jonathan Abramowitz, Lamar Alsop, Julien Barber, Phil Bodner, James Buffington, Frederick Buldrini, Jean R. Dane, Eddie Daniels, Peter Dimitriades, Lewis Eley, Gerald Tarack, Paul Gershman, Ted Hoyle, Regis Iandiorio, Teddy Israel, Harold Kohon, Jesse Levy, Guy Lumia, Joseph Malin, Richard Maximoff, Kermit Moore, Eugene J. Moye, Gene Orloff, Tony Posk, Alan Shulmanand Mitsue Takayama – strings
  • Lew Hahn – recording, mixing
  • Mike O’Malley – engineer assistant
  • George Piros – mastering
  • Robert Heimall – art direction, design
  • Pam Frank – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon, except where noted.

  1. Vengeance
  2. Just Like You Do
  3. We’re So Close
  4. Coming to Get You
  5. Never Been Gone – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  6. Pure Sin – Carly Simon, Frank Carillo
  7. Love You By Heart – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman, Libby Titus
  8. Spy – Carly Simon, James Taylor, Arif Mardin
  9. Memorial Day