1979
Solar Funk
01. Autumn Jewel 3:27
02. After The Storm 4:37
03. Tibetian Serenity 5:19
04. Ven A Bailar Conmigo 4:35
05. Nashville Express 3:33
06. Solar Funk 7:32
07. It's Live 5:51
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Donald Mayberry
Drums, Electronic Drums, Timpani, Percussion – Jerome Spearman
Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Vincent Bowens
Guitar – Daryl Smith
Harp, Violin, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Clavinet, Mandolin – Travis Biggs
Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn – Rayse Biggs
Vocals – Delores Harris, Desiree Yokely, Indeya Diane Smith*, Jeanette McGruder
This record is a tip for those who dig their Dexter Wansel and Roy Ayers albums from the same era. Solar Funk from 1979 is still rooted in the Soul/Funk codes of '76-'78. About half of the tracks can be also found on this earlier record from '76, Challenge. Perhaps that was a commercial disadvantage in '79, when the music business was about to make a major change. But from the perspective of the new millennium, this is a negligible aspect. For what counts in this segment of music (instrumental Disco-Funk) is whether the grooves are funky and arrangements consistent and tasteful. The Disco beats have aged, some synths sounds are dated, and the prominent use of the solo violin is an acquired taste. On the other hand, there are some good grooves and some nice jazzy solos, and the album does have a few nice genre pieces: Autumn Jewel; After The Storm. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the Alice Coltrane cinspired Tibetian Serenity, complete with harp arrangement.
Very cool electric funk album with a nice, spacey, jazzy vibe from composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Travis Biggs! Travis really crafts an intricately-layered, though easygoing mood here – recalling the crat of heroes like Norman Connors, Roy Ayers and others at the time, though with his own unique style. Biggs plays electric harp (and we don't mean harmonica!), similarly spacey electrified violin, keys, clavinet and violin– and the sound is as summer breeze cool as it as funky. The whole thing's got an amazing sound, especially on the standout "Tibetan Serenity"
02. After The Storm 4:37
03. Tibetian Serenity 5:19
04. Ven A Bailar Conmigo 4:35
05. Nashville Express 3:33
06. Solar Funk 7:32
07. It's Live 5:51
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Donald Mayberry
Drums, Electronic Drums, Timpani, Percussion – Jerome Spearman
Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Vincent Bowens
Guitar – Daryl Smith
Harp, Violin, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Clavinet, Mandolin – Travis Biggs
Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn – Rayse Biggs
Vocals – Delores Harris, Desiree Yokely, Indeya Diane Smith*, Jeanette McGruder
Very cool electric funk album with a nice, spacey, jazzy vibe from composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Travis Biggs! Travis really crafts an intricately-layered, though easygoing mood here – recalling the crat of heroes like Norman Connors, Roy Ayers and others at the time, though with his own unique style. Biggs plays electric harp (and we don't mean harmonica!), similarly spacey electrified violin, keys, clavinet and violin– and the sound is as summer breeze cool as it as funky. The whole thing's got an amazing sound, especially on the standout "Tibetan Serenity"
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