Feel The Heat Bill Summers

£7.63

Genre:
Fusion
Label:
BGP
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDBGPM 217

Summers’ debut album “Feel The Heat” was released in 1977. Obviously keen to make the record one that summed up his musical influences, he gathered around him some of the hottest musicians, including fellow Headhunter Paul Jackson, Mark Soskin on keyboards, drummer Alphonse Mouzon and a horn section comprising Roger Glenn, Julian Priester and Hadley Caliman. There was a future jazz star on vocals in the form of 20 year-old Diane Reeves and on the final track a small platoon of percussionists.

The structure of the LP was carefully thought out, with each side having its own distinct flavour. The first side, comprising high quality adult soul music that would have sounded perfect on late night radio, opens with the Skip Scarborough and Diane Reeves-penned ‘Just A Matter Of Time (Before The Beat Gets Your Mind)’, a wonderful swaying soul number showcasing Reeves’ voice. The rest of the side follows in a similar vein with each cut featuring a different lead vocalist. Deborah Thomas sings the lead on Alphonse Mouzon’s ‘Come Into My Life’, Sigidi features on Summers’ ‘People Know’ and Charles Meeks takes the lead on ‘No One’.

The second side opens in a completely different vein with the up-tempo fusion workout ‘Brazilian Skies’ featuring Reeves’ wordless vocal, Mark Soskin’s vibrant piano solo and a percussion breakdown from Summers, a relentless track that became a firm favourite on the UK jazz dance scene in the 1980s. Roger Glenn wrote ‘Check It Out’ and gives the latin-flavoured cut a distinctive feel with his flute playing. ‘Que Sabroso’ is something else, a fairly authentic rhythm-propelled salsa track. The album ends with the African-influenced ‘Drum Suite’, a tribute to the history of the drum and a throwback to the sort of record Art Blakey had made in the late 50s. While the album wasn’t a big hit, it laid the path for Summers’ next work.

By Dean Rudland

Share

Track listing

Show

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Customer reviews

Show

Customers who bought this item also bought