Roy ayers ubiquity everybody loves the sunshine blogspot

#Roy ayers ubiquity everybody loves the sunshine blogspot series#

As well as being a leading light in the jazz funk scene he later became a key figure in the acid jazz movement, one of the points at which jazz was being incorporated into hip hop. He was ready to move into the 70вЂ™s and become a pioneer of the jazz funk sound with album after album of classics on Polydor. Whilst still retaining a clear jazz sound, the vibraphone was riding a fatter groove than ever before. By the time of his last for that label вЂ“ вЂDaddy BugвЂ™ вЂ“ his shift towards a funkier sound was absolutely clear.

#Roy ayers ubiquity everybody loves the sunshine blogspot series#

Starting out as a post bop jazz artist, he released a series of albums on Atlantic in the early to late 70вЂ™s. He is certainly one of my all time favourite artists, someone IвЂ™ll never miss if he is appearing in town.

An artist comfortable with jazz, funk, acid jazz, disco, soul, hip hop, afrocentric grooves and even house music, his career deserves an appreciative audience. For one thing, it was news to me until recently that he hosts the fictitious вЂFusion FMвЂ™ radio station in Grand Theft Auto IV. There is more to his work than just jazz funk however, as is suggested by his collaborators. Suffice to say an artist who has worked with Guru, Fela Kuti, Masters At Work, The Roots as well as Wayne Henderson, Erykah Badu and many more is someone to be reckoned with. This is even before you consider his production work for others collaborations and guest appearances are many and varied. His solo recording history starts back in 1963, commencing with his debut album вЂWest Coast VibesвЂ™, as such any summary of his work runs the risk of being little more than a discography such is the volume of output to be covered. Active for over 50 years he rocks a crowd as well as ever and still looks to stretch his sound, recent work with Pete Rock providing evidence of this. Roy Ayers, born September 10 1940, has been and continues to be the master of his craft and a central player in the jazz funk story.