MATERIAL — One Down (1982) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

One Down marked a distinct shift in sound for Material, the avant-garde downtown pickup group organized around bassist Bill Laswell and keyboardist Michael Beinhorn. The edgy experimentalism that characterized earlier efforts like Temporary Music and Memory Serves is downplayed here in favor of funk and disco tunes delivered with a minimum of weirdness. Sure, it sounds dated but that doesn't make it less attractive. Laswell is a master of funk bass, and with guests like drummer Yogi Horton, guitarist Nile Rodgers and singers Nona Hendryx and Whitney Houston (just before she became a superstar on her own), he didn't really have much chance to go wrong. Highlights include"Take a Chance" and the strutting "I'm the One"; if you want something a little more challenging, check out Archie Shepp's squalling sax solo on the Houston vehicle "Memories." This is straight-ahead turn-of-the-80s funk at its old-fashioned best from the folks you'd have least suspected of harboring such sympathies. Rick Anderson
Tracklist
 1    Take A Chance 4:33
Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – B.J. Nelson
Backing Vocals [Chœurs], Vocals [Chants] – Nona Hendryx
Drums [Batterie] – J.T. Lewis
Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis
Percussion – Nicky Marrero
Written-By – B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
2    I'm The One 5:27
Backing Vocals [Chœurs], Vocals [Chants] – R. Bernard Fowler
Bongos – Daniel Ponce
Drums [Batterie] – Tony Thompson
Electric Piano [Yamaha CP-70 B Electronic Grand Piano] – Raymond Jones
Guitar – Nile Rodgers
Written-By – R.B. Fowler, B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
3    Time Out 4:58
Drums [Batterie] – J.T. Lewis
Guitar – Fred Frith
Snare [Caisse Claire] – Nicky Marrero
Written-By – B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn, T.L. Le
4    Let Me Have It All 5:27
Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – B.J. Nelson, Nona Hendryx
Drums [Batterie] – Yogi Horton
Guitar – Ronnie Drayton
Vocals [Chants] – Noris Night
Written-By – S. Stewart
5    Come Down 4:45
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Olivier Lake
Drums [Batterie] – Tony Thompson
Guitar – Nile Rodgers
Vocals [Chants], Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – R. Bernard Fowler
Written-By – R.B. Fowler, B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
6    Holding On 4:46
Drums [Batterie] – J.T. Lewis
Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis, Ronnie Drayton
Percussion – Nicky Marrero
Vocals [Chants], Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – B.J. Nelson
Written-By – B. Laswell, B. Eno, M. Beinhorn
7    Memories 4:03
Drums [Batterie] – Yogi Horton
Electric Piano [Yamaha CP-70 B Electronic Grand Piano] – Raymond Jones
Engineer – Robert Musso
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Vocals [Vocaux] – Whitney Houston
Written-By – H. Hopper
8    Don't Lose Control 4:21
Bongos – Daniel Ponce
Drums [Batterie] – Tony Thompson
Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis
Voice – Jean Karakos, Nicky Skopelitis, Thi-Linh Le
Written-By – B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
9    Busting Out 8:04
Bass – Bill Laswell
Drums [Batterie] – Fred Maher
Guitar – Ronnie Drayton
Synthesizer – Michael Beinhorn
Vocals [Chant] – Nona Hendryx
Written-By – B. Laswell, F. Maher, M. Beinhorn

ARCANA : BILL LASWELL | TONY WILLIAMS — Arc Of The Testimony (1997) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Arc of Testimony is one of the last recordings to feature legendary drummer Tony Williams, and its bold, experimental textures are a fitting epitaph to his career. Arcana was formed by bassist/producer Bill Laswell with the intention of exploring the outer reaches of fusion, ambient and free jazz. Like the group's debut, Last Wave (released only in Japan), Arc of the Testimony is a freewheeling, unpredictable blend of electronic and acoustic sounds. However, this record is even more adventurous, since it finds a common ground between improvisation and post-production studio trickery. All of the musicians -- Williams, Laswell, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, saxophonist Byard Lancaster, cornetist Graham Haynes, guitarist Nicky Skopelitis and guitarist Buckethead -- are open-minded and help push the music forward, resulting in a thoroughly involving, challenging listen. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    Black Money    4:16
2    Gone Tomorrow    9:39
3    Illuminator    6:07
4    Into The Circle    9:25
5    Returning    4:29
6    Calling Out The Blue Light    6:37
7    Circles Of Hell    7:15
8    Wheeless On A Dark River    4:27
9    The Earth Below    5:28
Credits :
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Bass Clarinet – Byard Lancaster (tracks: 4, 6)
Artwork – Yoko Yamabe
Bass [Basses], Electronics – Bill Laswell
Cornet – Graham Haynes (tracks: 2, 4)
Drums – Tony Williams
Guitar – Buckethead (tracks: 3, 5, 7, 9), Nicky Skopelitis (tracks: 2 to 8)
Songwriter [Songs Written By] – Tony Williams, Bill Laswell, Peter Apfelbaum (tracks: 1)
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Peter Apfelbaum (tracks: 1), Pharoah Sanders (tracks: 2, 7)

PHAROAH SANDERS | BILL LASWELL - With a Heartbeat (2003) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

OK, this sounds like a pretty hokey concept: Pharoah Sanders and some of Bill Laswell's Material crew perform along with recordings of a heartbeat, supplied by Dr. Jean-Louis Zink. Fortunately, it comes off far better in execution than one might expect. First off, the heartbeat itself is sonically treated to be more of a bass pulse, which Laswell then elaborates on when his bass is in the picture. As might be expected with Laswell, there are strong elements of dub throughout, from the sound of the basslines to the way the instruments fade in and out. Besides the heartbeat, which is always present to varying degrees, the main sounds are the guitar and electric sitar of Nicky Skopelitis and keyboards either by Jeff Bova or Laswell. Pharoah Sanders' playing is excellent, and the album is enjoyable, but one gets the sense that this is Laswell's project, and Pharoah just plays on it. If you're looking to start a Pharoah Sanders collection, begin with something from the Impulse catalog, like Karma or Thembi. As a Pharoah Sanders record, With a Heartbeat makes a fine Bill Laswell album. Sean Westergaard
Tracklist :
1    Across Time    17:06
2    Morning Tala    7:45
3    Alankara (Beats Of The Heart)    8:58
4    Gamaka    15:52
Credits :
Bass, Flute, Keyboards – Bill Laswell
Cornet, Electronics – Graham Haynes
Guitar, Sitar [Electric] – Nicky Skopelitis
Keyboards – Jeff Bova
Producer, Arranged By – Bill Laswell
Tabla, Voice – Trilok Gurtu
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Pharoah Sanders