Disco-jazz similar to what we were getting around 1978 from other jazz artists such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, and Gary Bartz. Muhammad had previously played drums with Horace Silver, Sam Cooke, and Lou Donaldson as well as being in the house bands for Prestige Records and the Apollo Theatre and in the pit for the Broadway musical Hair - quite the pedigree. While no singles on this record found the R&B or dance charts, Muhammad would hit those charts from time-to-time in the late '70s. Nevertheless, I dig the disco tunes here - there's a fair share of hooks, plus Muhammad's drumming patterns are so original and innovative that it gives the rhythm section a fresh sound. Guitarist Hiram Bullock has some great solos on many of the tracks.
Press of the time:
- Billboard: "A well mixed LP"
- Record World: "masterful jazz/funk sound"
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard Top 200: #208
- Billboard Jazz: #25
- CashBox Jazz: #25
Tracks: 6 tracks, 39 minutes. The first four are highly danceable; my favorites are Disco Man and The Doc (featuring a scorching tenor solo from Bob Berg), but the funky title track, written and sung by Bullock, isn't far behind. The penultimate track was written by Muhammad and has a calypso feel; Jamaican reggae musician Max Romeo provides smooth vocals. The final track, Big Foot, is credited to Idris's wife Sakinah Muhammad, former lead singer of The Crystals. It's an eight minute, free-form affair and the closest thing to jazz on the disc, ultimately coming across as a jam session where Idris gets to stretch out on multiple percussion instruments over repetitive bass lines. Enjoyable for what it is, it doesn't exactly fit with the other 5 tracks, but it did make me look up what a duggi is.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
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