THE JAZZ CRUSADERS
featuring Wayne Henderson
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Never one to rest on his laurels, for more than three decades Wayne
Henderson has written, performed, produced and contributed to the creation
of a veritable musical spectrum of varying hues, including ground-breaking
works such as the African American fusion sounds of Letta M'Bulu, as well
Masakela's "Grazing In The Grass" which ultimately sold over two million records.
He also created the concept for the band HIROSHIMA, a fusion of Japanese
and American music. His two albums with HIROSHIMA enjoyed both
critical and commercial success. He has produced such artists as George
Benson, Dionne Warwick, Rebbie Jackson (Michael Jackson's elder sister),
Bobby Lyle, Ronnie Laws, Ramsey Lewis, Willie Bobo, Esther Phillips, Roy
Ayers and a variety of others.
Wilton Felder certainly wasn't idle either, a key member of Barry
White's LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA, Wilton made his mark as a musician
playing with such diverse artists as Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, Joni
Mitchell, the Four Tops, Michael Franks, Diana Ross, Stanley Clarke, Joe
Cocker, and Nancy Wilson. Wayne Henderson produced several of his solo
recording projects.
The artists both Wayne and Wilton have worked with read like a cross
section from some imaginary WHO'S WHO of music, a few of which include
Jackson Five, B.B. King, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Bill Withers, Randy
Crawford, Stanley Turrentine, Barry White, Jimmie Smith and Bobby Womack.
In 1995, these co-creators of the signature Jazz Crusaders horn sound
reunited and, like a phoenix rising from its ashes, that sound was reborn.
The result was
"happy again", their first album for Sin-Drome Records. The
invention of mad scientists Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder was aided
and abetted by Bobby Lyle, N'Dugu Chancler, Larry Kimpel, and Craig T.
Cooper, with special guest Larry Carlton, Hubert Laws, Pancho Sanchez, Roy
Ayers and Dr. Donald Byrd. Adding Bobby Caldwell's unique vocals to this
album brought the level of musical intensity to a new plateau. The title,
"happy again", was more than apropos, back together creating the
style of music that feeds the soul, and doing it on their own terms, the
music is no less than infectious.
The Jazz Crusaders then went off to scout new territory for the band's
next crusade and came back with their second Sin-Drome release. From the
wilds of the Louisiana Bayou, a region rich in such elusive game as Cajun,
Zydeco and Delta Blues music - and is, ironically, the backyard to their
native Houston - came "Louisiana Hot Sauce" which contains a
mixed bag of guest artists including Bobby Womack, Dionne Warwick,
superstar rapper Domino, neo-bluesman Keb'Mo', Patrice Banks-Horn (better
known as Choc'let of Sly and the Family Stone, Rose Royce and Graham
Central Station fame), introducing Ms. Monica Jackson and a variety of
regional musicians for authentic seasoning, featuring New Orleans' very
own ambassador of bon temps, Read Teddy McQuiston.
Released in August 1996 at a raise-the-rafters gathering hosted by the
HOUSE OF BLUES in New Orleans, "Louisiana Hot Sauce" coincides
with their extensive touring dates in North America, Europe, Japan, South
Africa and Southeast Asia. Plan to catch the roving revelry of the Jazz
Crusaders on the road where Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder will be
joined by a lineup of such top musicians as Bobby Lyle (keyboards), Tony
St. James (drums), Nathaniel Phillips (bass), Giovanni Guido (guitar) and
some surprise guest artists they don't even anticipate.
