The Jazz Crusaders At The Lighthouse

Give the success The Crusaders enjoyed at the forefront of the jazz funk movement during the 1970s and 80s, its easy to overlook their body of work from the earlier decade. Their individual musical prowess is not in dispute, for you can hear the likes of Joe Sample and Wilton Felder on many a Motown recording of the late 60s and early 70s, including all of the early Jackson 5 hits. Whilst their work at Motown saw them performing bubblegum soul, their own recordings as The Jazz Crusaders belong to an entirely different musical genre. With Wilton on tenor saxophone and Wayne Henderson on trombone, the group had a distinct frontline, something that became a trademark. Add to the mix Joe Sample on keyboards and Stix Hooper on drums and, for the purposes of this particular album bass player Victor Gaskin and you have a tight, well functioning outfit. This album was recorded at The Lighthouse on 5 August 1962 and features five Crusaders compositions (two by Wayne, two by Joe and one from Stix) alongside their interpretation of Jackie McLeans Appointment In Ghana. Overall, the sound is more forceful than its predecessors, with the solos showing a marked improvement in content and assurance. That the group should go on turning out such quality for fifty years or more is testament to their abilities.