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"...Uncle Funk..."
I can remember DJ'ing the UK 12" single of "Night Cruiser" by DEODATO on Warner Brothers K 17696 (T) in its distinctive Die-Cut Card Sleeve and the assembled crowd loving every uber-funky echoed-synth moment of it. And as the backing group Platinum Hook shouted and clapped throughout – the assembled dancers hungry for Jazz Funk and Fusion would do the same.
I used to work for Aer Lingus at the time and I'd fly to Heathrow from Dublin on a Saturday morning – hit Berwick Street and The Record Shack in Soho – get my Jazz Funk and Soul Essentials – and be back that night in a Club that specialized in Jazz Funk. Ah – them was the days…(I shudder to think of the clobber I wore). Which brings us by way of air bubble, needle and deck to this fab reissue…
Warner Brothers Music Group has reissued the "Night Cruiser" album as part of their 'Fusion Best Collection 1000' Series for 2014 in Japan – 24-Bit CD Remasters of classic albums from their large umbrella of labels. The vinyl LP was originally released September 1980 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3467 (No UK issue) and this limited edition CD reissue is a straightforward transfer of that Jazz Fusion classic (34:42 mnutes). Here are the Groovitation details…
Released 23 July 2014 in Japan – "Night Cruiser" by DEODATO on Warner Brothers/Jasrac WPCR-28074 (Barcode 4943674180578) breaks down as follows:
1. Night Cruiser (6:20 minutes)
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards
Gary Granger – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
George Parrish, Jr – Guitars
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Vocals and Claps
2. East Side Strut (5:38 minutes)
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards
Gary Granger – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
Sergio Dias – Guitar
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
3. Skatin' (5:19 minutes)
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards
David Bravo – Synthesizers
Gary Granger – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
George Parrish, Jr – Guitars
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Claps
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards
David Bravo – Synthesizers
Gary Granger – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
George Parrish, Jr – Guitars
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Claps
4. Uncle Funk (6:31 minutes) [Side 2]
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards and Guitar
Skipp Ingram – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
Victor Jones – Rhythm Guitar
Ronald Bell – Tenor Sax
Platinum Hook – Vocals and Claps
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards and Guitar
Skipp Ingram – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
Victor Jones – Rhythm Guitar
Ronald Bell – Tenor Sax
Platinum Hook – Vocals and Claps
5. Love Magic (4:41 minutes)
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards
Gary Granger – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
George Parrish, Jr – Guitars
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Claps
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards
Gary Granger – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
George Parrish, Jr – Guitars
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Claps
6. Groovitation (6:15 minutes)
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards and Bass Drums
Skipp Ingram – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
Sergio Dias – Guitar
Ray Gomez – Guitar Solo
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Claps
Eumir Deodato – Keyboards and Bass Drums
Skipp Ingram – Bass
Stephen Daniels – Drums
Sergio Dias – Guitar
Ray Gomez – Guitar Solo
Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
Platinum Hook – Claps
The standard CD has a cream Warner Brothers label and the foldout inlay pictures the album artwork and recording credits on one side with a short May 2014 essay on the album in Japanese on the rear. Only the outer OBI tells us of the 24-Bit Remaster (no names) and it sounds fabulous – clear, punchy and not too over-trebled for the sake of it. It has the magic of the vinyl album and the sheer sonic wallop you got off the 12" single.
After years with the CTI label – Brazil's primo keyboard player Eumir Deodato decided like many other Jazz Players of the time to go for the feet and not the head come the late Seventies. He embarked on his Funky Journey with "Love Island" in 1978 and "Knights Of Fantasy" in 1979 – finally hitting paydirt with the brill "Night Cruiser" album in 1980. All six tracks are Jazz Fusion/Jazz Funk in the best dancefloor tradition enlisting the musicianship and Production chops of Kool and The Gang members Ronald Bell and George Brown and most of the band Platinum Hook.
"Easy Side Strut" reminds you of George Benson's "Breezin'" album with its harmonics-guitar opening and brass now crystal clear. It goes all Rod Temperton's Heatwave-sounding with "Skatin'" – a slick groove that could easily have been another single like the brilliant title track. Side 2 opens with "Uncle Funk" a wickedly catchy slice of Saxophone and Guitar Funk co-written with Bassist Jamil Joanes. Ronald Bell of Kool & The Gang plays impressively cool Saxophone throughout.
We go back to that keyboard aura of "Night Cruiser" for "Love Magic" which sounds like something off Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" in instrumental form. It has a fabulous feel as it piano grooves along – another dancefloor slayer (a co-write with Dave Bravo). "Groovitation" features a suitably flash solo in its centre from Spanish Electric Guitar virtuoso Ray Gomez – it's another bass-and-brass driven funkster and is a very cool way to end a very cool album…
I've loved rehearing and reliving this forgotten nugget of an LP. If you've any love for "Night Cruiser" the track and fancy more of the same – then wing this mid-priced Japanese CD remaster into your player as soon as your missus isn't looking…Do It!
