About

Black Rhythm Revolution! Is the first solo album from the jazz-funk legend Idris Muhammad, a New Orleans-bred rhythm king who successfully made the leap from the finest soulful jazz records of the ’60s to the nastiest fusion funk of the ’70s. Here we catch him literally on the cusp of the two in 1970, with one good foot in the get-down of “Express Yourself” and “Super Bad,” and the other in his own heady excursions into modal rhythm and melody, accompanied by virtuosos Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Melvin Sparks, who came together for sessions overseen by legendary producer Rudy Van Gelder. The final product created two moods are neatly divided into sides A and B, a beautiful example of the sequencing and listening experience only vinyl can provide.

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Idris Muhammad was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He had an extensive career performing jazz, funk, R&B, and soul music and recorded with musicians such as Ahmad Jamal, Lou Donaldson, Pharoah Sanders, Bob James, and Tete Montoliu. His pioneering approach which wed syncopated grooves, bluesy swing, and trademark funky breaks formed the backbone of his illustrious career. The New Orleans-bred rhythm king successfully made the leap from the finest soulful jazz records of the ’60s to the nastiest fusion funk of the ’70s, and Black Rhythm Revolution! catches him right on the cusp of the two in 1970, with one good foot in the get-down of “Express Yourself” and “Super Bad,” and the other in his own heady excursions into modal rhythm and melody. — (via Label)

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Drummer Idris Muhammad straddled the transition from 1950s R&B and soul-jazz into jazz fusion, the crossover exemplified in his 1970 debut as leader.

Drummer Idris Muhammad ranged wide over the musical territory, starting as a teenager in New Orleans R&B, where he was the drummer on Fats Domino’s hit Blueberry Hill. He graduated in the 1960s to membership of Prestige’s soul-jazz house band – for whom he played on more than 150 recordings – before laying down the heaviest of funk in the 1970s.

Black Rhythm Revolution! was Muhammed’s first solo album, its title referring to the hard-hitting drumming of the time of which Muhammad was such a master.

As befits a music in constant transition, the two sides of this album pull in slightly different directions. The first side looks back to standard Prestige soul-jazz, with Express Yourself laying down some up and fun R&B, Soulful Drums a slow-burner featuring the leader’s emphatic drumming, and James Brown’s Super Bad a punchy workout led by the fine duo of saxophonist Clarence Thomas – he arranged all five songs on the album – and guitarist Melvin Sparks.

The second side looks forward to 70s modal fusion, Muhammad expanding his drum kit to end Wander on tuned tom-toms, and playing a ceremonial log drum from New Guinea in his solo on By The Red Sea. Both pieces were written by Muhammad, proving that drummers can make fine composers.

It is obviously good to have this fine album back in circulation but the sonic quality of this high-quality vinyl release makes it something special. I doubt this album has ever been heard so clearly before. — (via Jazz Journal)

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Label: Prestige, Craft Recordings
Series: Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Reissued: 2023 / Original: 1971
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk

File under: Jazz  // Soul-Jazz/Jazz-Funk
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