Phil Upchurch - Darkness, Darkness (1972)

One of the most underrated soul jazz records of not only the 70s but of all-time; session man Phil Upchurch steps up to the front and cuts loose on this gem of a funky record- not only killing it with his own compositions but reworking some classics like Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues, James Taylor's Fire and Rain and Carole King's You've Got a Friend. 

A perfect intersection of jazz, funk, rock, soul and blues.
Phil Upchurch - Darkness, Darkness (1972; Blue Thumb Records)
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Black Nasty - Talking to the People (1973)

Raw integrated funk. Just straight up FONK.

The kinda funk make you wanna smack yo mama for not raising you up on this kinda funk.

The kinda funk that make you wanna visit Detroit.

Cut the shit and drop the needle on this.
Black Nasty - Talking to the People (1973; Enterprise Records)

Arnie Lawrence - Unobstructed Universe (1976)

I found this a few weeks ago on a blog I like to frequent (Prog Not Frog), and all I can say is that it's absolutely amazing. Funky-ass rhythms that melt away into some free jazz/space jam stuff and then back again- and that's just during the 30-minute title track.

I don't know a whole lot about this release except that it's listed under both Arnie Lawrence as leader and credited to Unobstructed Universe as the band. I read in an interview with Lawrence that it was his intention to call the band and record Unobstructed Universe but for contractual reasons it's listed under him. Go figure.

Either way, it's some funky ass fusion shit from the mid-1970's...

Arnie Lawrence - Unobstructed Universe (1976; Adamo Records)
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