Description
Polished jazz. Refined rock. Sharpened funk. It all comes together as a powerful groove takes flight.
Formed in 1969, Soul Media had long championed the fusion of jazz and rock. This direction took its next step with the 1973 recording, In the Groove. The sharp edge of jazz is brought to the forefront, rock is blended in to sharpen the sound, and funk is injected to give it power and elasticity. The result is a powerful yet sophisticated, undeniably cool piece of music that defies categorization as jazz-rock, jazz-funk, or fusion. This album has also been described as a response to The Crusaders, whom Inagaki Jiro was paying close attention to at the time. The aim was spot on. With this album, Soul Media achieved a sophisticated black feeling, paving the way toward their ultimate destination, Funky Staff.
Text by Yusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUND/DEEP JAZZ REALITY)
Tracklist:
Side A
1. That’s How I Feel
2. Blue Blood
3. It’s Impossible
4. Put It Where You Want It
5. Crazy Medicine
Side B
1. Joie De Vivre
2. Papa Hooper’s Barrel House Groove
3. Thrill Is Gone
4. Raven Speaks
5. Samba Chimba
