Sample and Hold

Hate to have to post this one, but I'm afraid keyboards legend and original Crusader Joe Sample has passed on at the age of 75.

One of the most important, if not the most important, soul-jazz outfits of the 1960s and 1970s, some of those records (Scratch, The 2nd Crusade) are as essential as breathing. And Joe Sample was their leader.

In tribute I am going to share this utterly blistering Crusaders set from the Spring of 1973, when guitarist Larry Carlton first joined. It's a soundboard feed, well-mixed, and I took Saturday to work on making it sound the very best it could.

Crusaders
Hec Edmundson Pavillion
Seattle, Washington
Spring 1973

01 introduction 

02 Put It Where You Want It
03 Watts Happening
04 Message from the Inner City
05 Treat Me Like You Treat Yourself
06 Eleanor Rigby
07 Young Rabbits > drum solo
08 Don't Let It Get You Down
09 So Far Away
 

Total time: 1:01:00

Joe Sample - keyboards
Wilton Felder - tenor saxophone
Wayne Henderson - trombone
Rupert Hughes - bass
Stix Hooper - drums
Larry Carlton - guitar

2nd gen reel from master sbd reel

remastered by Jazamo in August 2013 and EN in Sept 2014

381 MB FLAC/September 2014 archive link

It's a very sad occasion to lose someone whose fingerprints are all over the music of the last 50 years, but let's focus on a life well-lived as we enjoy this burning hour of power featuring Joe and the Crusaders at the absolute peak of their perfection.--J.

 1939-2014