Kenny Cox - 1974 - Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise

Kenny Cox

1974

Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise

01. Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise 7:25

02. Samba de Romance 5:21

03. Island Song 9:12

04. Lost My Love 4:26

05. Beyond The Dream 13:22

Guitars, Bass Guitar – Ron English

Backing Vocals – Fito Foster

Drums – Victor Reeves

Drums, Percussion – Ronald Johnsons

Electric Guitar – Skeets Curry (tracks: A1)

Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Buzz Jones

Vocals – Ursula Walker

Keyboards - Kenny cox

Recorded May-June 1974 and February-March 1975 at STRATA SOUND STUDIOS, 45 Seldon, Detroit.

Kenny Cox, a Detroit-based jazz pianist and keyboardist, was a key figure in the city's vibrant jazz scene during the 1960s and 1970s. He founded the independent label Strata Records in 1969, which included a recording studio and concert gallery, aiming for creative and financial autonomy for Afro-American musicians away from major industry players. Strata released several albums before folding in 1975, inspiring similar ventures like Strata-East in New York. "Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise" was recorded between May-June 1974 and February-March 1975 at Strata Sound Studios in Detroit but remained unreleased until 2012, when DJ Amir (of Kon & Amir) acquired the catalog rights and issued it via his 180 Proof Records label. The 2013 vinyl release was a limited-edition remaster (1,000 numbered copies on 180-gram vinyl in a gatefold jacket), marking it as a "lost" gem excavated after nearly 40 years.

The album draws heavily from Latin and Caribbean influences, reflecting Cox's fascination with regions he had never visited, emphasizing themes of joy, vigor, and living in the moment. Cox handles Fender Rhodes, Hohner D6 Clavinet, Mellotron, and ARP Odyssey synthesizer, creating a blend of jazz, Latin rhythms, and spacey, futuristic elements. Supporting musicians include Ursula Walker on vocals, Ronald Johnson and Nengue Hernandez on percussion, Buzz Jones on soprano sax, and Charles Moore on flugelhorn. The sound evokes a summery, feel-good vibe, with laid-back grooves that wash over the listener, incorporating bossa nova, salsa, and spiritual jazz touches reminiscent of artists like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Flora Purim.

"Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise" is a five-track album spread across a double-LP format, totaling around 40 minutes. It embodies a "joyful noise" through its warm, inviting production—think bottled sunshine with effortless musicianship that feels timeless, as if recorded yesterday despite its 1970s origins. The style merges post-bop jazz with Latin percussion, funky horns, and electronic experimentation, creating a mellow yet vibrant exploration of grooves. Influences range from Brazilian bossa (e.g., Bebeto's self-titled debut) to cosmic spiritual jazz (e.g., Pharoah Sanders) and fusion (e.g., Return to Forever-era Chick Corea or George Duke). The album's nonchalance sets a tone of dreamy strings at walking speed, interspersed with furious Rhodes and horn solos, making it a rare groove artifact that prioritizes healing and positivity over aggression.

Cox's liner notes highlight the music's inspiration from Caribbean and Latin cultures, permeated with a vigor declaring "Life’s best moment is today." This manifests in light, breezy arrangements that prioritize space and synergy among players, resulting in loose, relaxed tracks that shimmy with understated dexterity. The production, remastered digitally for the 2013 release, preserves the analog warmth while enhancing clarity.

The tracks are sequenced to build a cohesive, sun-drenched narrative, starting with upbeat joy and evolving into introspective depth. Here's a breakdown:

Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise (7:25)

The opener sets a perfect tone with tinkling keys riding a loping bassline, bubbling sea sounds underneath, evoking a beachside reverie—sun-blinded and surf-ready. Percussion by Johnson and Hernandez adds rhythmic vitality, while Ursula Walker's light, breezy vocals emerge around the five-minute mark, jazzifying salsa elements. It's pure joy, reminiscent of Stanley Turrentine's "Storm," with a nonchalant warmth that fades out like rolling waves. This track encapsulates the album's healing ethos, bottled sunshine in musical form.

Samba de Romance (5:21)

Continuing the Latin theme, acoustic guitar licks tumble alongside keys, with spacey synth pads floating ethereally and a pulsing bottom end driving the melody. It bridges jazz and late-60s space-age sounds via quirky string arrangements and a pulsating Rhodes solo. The bossa-inspired groove recalls bucolic Brazilian classics, effortlessly summery and inviting.

Island Song (9:12)

This mid-album highlight breaks out flugelhorn (Charles Moore) for fiercely funky blowing, with rattling percussion creating a mellow exploration of shapes and shimmies. It delves into salsa mode with great horn solos, including Buzz Jones on soprano sax, before Rhodes takes center stage. The players vibe loosely, kicking back in an effortlessly funky, timeless manner—feel-good music at its core.

Lost My Love (4:26)

A lighter bossa groove with exotic chords echoing standards like "Save Your Love For Me" or "Feel Like Makin’ Love." Cox's multi-keyboard work shines, and a 2022 remix by DJ Amir and Re.Decay updates it with disco drums and hip keys while staying true to the original's effortless charm. It's concise yet evocative, blending nostalgia with forward-thinking production.

Beyond The Dream (13:22)

The epic closer, written by Maria Martin, starts introspectively with Flora Purim-like vocals mixed into cosmic spirituals (Pharoah Sanders vibes), before exploding into carnevalesque energy. It equals Chick Corea's fusion intensity and Herbie Hancock/George Duke arrangements, with a vocal flourish proclaiming "love is for you and me." Meditative at first, it builds to a triumphant, life-affirming climax—love as the ultimate message.

Critics hail "Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise" as an unmissable rarity, a rough diamond unearthed from the rare-groove mine, destined for countless collections. It's praised for its timeless appeal, blending warmth and dexterity into an antidote to negativity—music that heals with love, laughter, and groove. Not just for Rhodes enthusiasts, its luxury reissue format elevates it as a collector's item, with Latin vigor making it essential for jazz-fusion fans.

On social media, the album sees niche appreciation, with French radio station FIP frequently playing tracks like "Lost My Love" and "Samba de Romance" in 2023, indicating ongoing airplay. Listeners spin it alongside electronic soul compilations, underscoring its eclectic vibe. Overall, it's celebrated as a holy trinity of groove (Cox, Amir, and reissue labels), a beautiful testament to joy in turbulent times.

In summary, this album is a masterful, overlooked fusion of jazz and Latin soul—timeless, uplifting, and richly deserving of its rediscovery. If you're into spiritual jazz or rare grooves, it's a must-listen that rewards repeated plays with its subtle depths and infectious positivity.