GARY BARTZ - The Shadow Do! (1975-2007) RM | Prestige Sixtieth Anniversary 14 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Not as known as the later Music Is My Sanctuary -- which was an even further departure, in its increased smoothness, from his Ntu Troop dates, and more popular by virtue of being released on Blue Note -- The Shadow Do! was the first time Gary Bartz sought production assistance from Fonce and Larry Mizell, the sibling duo who enlivened many sessions throughout the '70s with their soaring fusion of soul, funk, and (as Bartz would say) "the j-word." At this point, some j-word purists were hip to the Mizell program, what with dates from Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, and Johnny Hammond already in circulation. Checking the back of this Prestige release supplied all the info they needed to know: production by the Mizells, and four people credited with playing some form of synthesizer. Keyboardist Hubert Eaves, bassist Michael Henderson, guitarist Reggie Lucas, percussionist Mtume, and drummer Howard King help lend a sound that is a little funkier and heavier than most Mizell-guided sessions, but it's no less sweet. The second through fourth songs of side one exude joy and love, anchoring the album in a sense of contentedness so infectious that it might have even won over a few cold souls expecting straight jazz. Bartz's saxophones are at their melodic best, dancing, skipping, and trilling through the arrangements. He also sings lead, present on most of the songs, and though he probably didn't win any publication's best vocalist award, no one sounds like him, and the Mizells' own background harmonies are on-point as ever. Andy Kellman
Tracklist :
1    Winding Roads 3:18
Lyrics By, Arranged By [Vocals] – Gary Bartz
Written-By, Arranged By – Hubert Eaves
2    Mother Nature 6:27
Written-By, Arranged By, Composed By – Gary Bartz
3    Love Tones 5:11
Written-By, Arranged By – Gary Bartz
4    Gentle Smiles (Saxy) 4:21
Lyrics By, Arranged By [Vocals] – Gary Bartz
Written-By, Arranged By – Reggie Lucas
5    Make Me Feel Better 4:41
Written-By, Arranged By, Backing Vocals – Michael Henderson
6    Sea Gypsy 6:18
Arranged By – Larry Mizell
Whistle – James Carter
7    For My Baby 4:57
Written-By, Arranged By – Gary Bartz
8    Incident 2:56
Arranged By, Music By – Gary Bartz
Lyrics By – Countee Cullen
Credits :
Bass – Michael Henderson
Congas, Percussion – Mtume
Drums, Synthesizer – Howard King
Executive-Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Guitar – Reggie Lucas
Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer – Hubert Eaves
Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Other [Cover Concept, Title] – Gary Bartz
Synthesizer – Larry Mizell

BOBBI HUMPHREY - Blacks and Blues (1974-1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Bobbi Humphrey scored her biggest hit with her third album Blacks and Blues, an utterly delightful jazz-funk classic that helped make her a sensation at Montreux. If it sounds a lot like Donald Byrd's post-Black Byrd output, it's no accident; brothers Larry and Fonce Mizell have their fingerprints all over the album, and as on their work with Byrd, Larry handles all the composing and most of the arranging and production duties. It certainly helps that the Mizells were hitting on all cylinders at this point in their careers, but Humphrey is the true star of the show; she actually grabs a good deal more solo space than Byrd did on his Mizell collaborations, and she claims a good deal of responsibility for the album's light, airy charm. Her playing is indebted to Herbie Mann and, especially, Hubert Laws, but she has a more exclusive affinity for R&B and pop than even those two fusion-minded players, which is why she excels in this setting. Mizell is at the peak of his arranging powers, constructing dense grooves with lots of vintage synths, wah-wah guitars, and rhythmic interplay. Whether the funk runs hot or cool, Humphrey floats over the top with a near-inexhaustible supply of melodic ideas. She also makes her vocal debut on the album's two ballads, "Just a Love Child" and "Baby's Gone"; her voice is girlish but stronger than the genre standard, even the backing vocals by the Mizells and keyboardist Fred Perren. Overall, the album's cumulative effect is like a soft summer breeze, perfect for beaches, barbecues, and cruising with the top down. Steve Huey  
Tracklist:
1 Chicago, Damn 6:31
Larry Mizell
2 Harlem River Drive 7:50
Larry Mizell
 3 Just a Love Child 6:34
Larry Mizell
 4 Blacks and Blues 4:37
Larry Mizell
5 Jasper Country Man 5:14
Larry Mizell
6 Baby's Gone 8:48
Larry Mizell 
 Credits
Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Vocal] – Fred Perron, Larry Mizell, Fonce Mizell
Clavinet, Trumpet – Larry Mizell
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor – Larry Mizell
Congas, Backing Vocals – King Errisson
Drums – Harvey Mason
Electric Bass – Chuck Rainey, Ron Brown
Electric Guitar – David T. Walker, John Rowin
Flute, Vocals – Bobbi Humphrey
Percussion – Stephanie Spruill
Piano, Electric Piano – Jerry Peters
Synthesizer [Arp] – Freddie Perren