Released on the prestigious label *Groove Merchant*, headed by Sonny Lester, and produced by Sonny Lester himself, this album is nothing short of a textbook example of jazz-funk. The lineup features a gathering of top-tier musicians, including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. With thrilling interplay between the saxophone and trumpet, a gripping bassline, and a stylish, high-quality blend of jazz-funk and soul-jazz, this album is a true masterpiece. Widely recognized as a treasure trove of samples, this album includes an excellent cover of The Stylistics’ classic “People Make the World Go Round,” which later garnered renewed attention when it was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious’ “Swan Lake” (’94).
The opening track, “First Come, First Serve” (sample_1), is instantly recognizable for its striking percussion and bass intro; and the flow from “Don’t Ask Me” (sample_2)—with its cool modern jazz vibe and passionate, heart-pounding bassline—to “Lord Sideways” (sample_3) is simply superb. With a total of seven tracks—all of which have been sampled by artists like DJ Premier, The Alchemist, and DJ Shadow—this is a landmark album that epitomizes 1970s jazz-funk. Personally, I also love it as a modern jazz/soul-jazz album. Highly recommended! (Original Japanese text by AYAM)