The Festival Album was the only live set by the Jazz Crusaders not recorded at the Lighthouse. As such, it is a compilation of performances recorded at the Pacific Jazz and Newport Festivals in 1966. The band had two different bass players during these gigs: Jimmy Bond was at the Newport Festival, while Herbie Lewis joined for the Pacific Jazz Festival. The band was well established everywhere but in New York, bewilderingly, and had recorded a dozen records, all of which were popular. And it’s easy to see why. The version of Ken Cox’s “Trance Dance” that opens the set showcases all … read more
The Festival Album was the only live set by the Jazz Crusaders not recorded at the Lighthouse. As such, it is a compilation of performances recorded … read more
The Festival Album was the only live set by the Jazz Crusaders not recorded at the Lighthouse. As such, it is a compilation of performances recorded at the Pacific Jazz and Newport Festi… read more
The Jazz Crusaders were started in 1961 by Joe Sample (piano), Wilton Felder (tenor sax), Stix Hooper (drums), and Wayne Henderson (trombone). The group employed a number of bassists (and also a few guitarists) throughout the '60s. As the decade progressed the Jazz Crusaders moved from a more bop-oriented sound and began to incorporate more soul and R&B influences. In 1971 the band shortened its name to The Crusaders, which made sense seeing as they were playing much more funk than jazz. The core group of Sample, Felder, Hooper, and Henderson remained and they added guitari… read more
The Jazz Crusaders were started in 1961 by Joe Sample (piano), Wilton Felder (tenor sax), Stix Hooper (drums), and Wayne Henderson (trombone). The group employed a number of bassists (and also a few guitarists) throughout the '60s… read more