Norman Connors - "Love From The Sun" [Buddah LP '73] With Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, Buster Williams, Carlos Garnett, DeeDee Bridgewater, in a celestial set from before the drummer/leader switched to pop-soul crossover mode
Phil Upchurch - "Lovin' Feeling" [Blue Thumb promo LP '73] The bluesy jazz guitarist better known as a sideman (Carmen McRea, Chess records house band) and for his "You Can't Sit Down" instro pop hit of the early 60's, delivers a funky pop-jazz set somewhere between Grant Green and George Benson
Lonnie Smith - "Drives" [Blue Note LP '70] Hot organ quintet set by Benson's one-time Hammond man (not to be confused with better-known keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith)
Sergio Mendes - "The Beat Of Brazil" [Atlantic LP '67] Arranged by Antonio Carlos Jobim, recorded by Philips in Rio de Janeiro with Brazilian sextet. Bossa nova of course, but with very credible straight modern jazz aspects as well, more so than on Jobim's own stuff. Quoth Sergio: "I've never heard an American drummer who can play Brazilian rhythm correctly...When you hear the sound in Brazil, there is no basic rhythmic pattern - no straight tempo - it's loose - there are shifts...It reflects the same kind of feeling that American drummers have when they play jazz. But for some reason, when they attempt Brazilian rhythm, it just sounds like a 'nice' beat."
