Simba O'Donel Levy SKU: MRBLP296 Barcode: 7119691293318 20.00 £20.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Mr Bongo Released Date: 23rd February 2024 Buying Format: 1LP Out of stock Back Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info Proudly presenting a new series of Mr Bongo reissues exploring the incredible back catalogue of Sonny Lester’s iconic Groove Merchant record label. Classic 70’s funky soul-jazz goodness by the guitar maestro O’Donel Levy. Produced by Sonny Lester and featuring a who’s who list of 70’s session players. Launching a new series of choice reissues from the iconic Groove Merchant label. First up, the spellbinding funk-fuelled, soul jazz album ‘Simba’, by guitar maestro O’Donel Levy. Baltimore-born, Levy was already well regarded as one of the best up-and-coming jazz guitarists at the time of Simba’s release. Having toured with George Benson and Jimmy McGriff, as well as featuring on McGriff’s Black Pearl album on Blue Note, he went on to sign with Sonny Lester’s Groove Merchant. Produced by Lester himself and recorded over two back- to- back days of sessions in 1973, Simba features a who’s who of ’70s session players. The album features the legendary studio drummer Steve Gadd, Cecil Bridgewater on Flugelhorn, bass by Tony Levin and arrangements by Manny Albam. A masterclass in tight yet effortlessly funk-driven rhythms, the tracks showcase these musicians at their zenith. Album opener ‘Bad, Bad, Simba’ wouldn’t have been out of place on a Lalo Schifrin ’70s car chase soundtrack. Levy’s playing is brilliant, bright and slick, with an infectiously exuberant energy that is complimented perfectly by Gadd’s supreme drumming. ‘Playhouse’ serves up another vibrant offering, Wah Wah guitars, horns and flutes duelling it out in a fast-paced fashion. The cinematic thread continues throughout, yet with the tempo taken down a notch. ‘Sierra Lonely’ and ‘Sad, Sad, Simba’ head into lush ballad territory, with superb arrangements by Albam and beautiful playing by Collins and Bridgewater on Flugelhorn. Here Levy shines without taking any limelight, as the players synergize to a relaxed perfection. ‘Nigerian Knights’ closes the album flawlessly, showcasing once more Levy’s understated yet magnetic flow on the guitar. Every track on ‘Simba’ is a winner. As with CTI Recordings of the same era, the feel and textures of Sonny Lester’s productions have that pre-emptive, hip- hop aesthetic, which later producers would rework and reimagine. This album is expertly balanced, deftly arranged and magically executed, ebbing and flowing with a cool buoyancy that just grooves and grooves. Artist O'Donel Levy Genre Soul / Funk Label Mr Bongo Buying Options 1LP Format 1LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings Bad, Bad, Simba Kilimanjaro Cookout Playhouse Sierra Lonely Sad, Sad, Simba Joni Nigerian Knights Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from Soul / Funk View Product Quick View Aaron Neville Tell It Like It Is Soul / Funk | Varese Sarabande | 1LP Released 16th December 2016 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Aaron Neville Tell It Like It Is £20.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Varese Sarabande SKU: VAR74161 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 16th December 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Marvin Gaye Volume 2 1966-1970 Soul / Funk | Universal Motown | 8LP, Box Set Released 13th November 2015 £100.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Marvin Gaye Volume 2 1966-1970 £100.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Universal Motown SKU: 5353504 Formats: 8LP, Box Set Released Date: 13th November 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Keith Sweat Make It Last Forever Soul / Funk | Rhino Elektra | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 23rd February 2024 £33.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Keith Sweat Make It Last Forever £33.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Rhino Elektra SKU: 0603497826803 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 23rd February 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Otis Redding At The Whisky A Go Go Soul / Funk | Sundazed | 180g, 1LP Released 2nd August 2016 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Otis Redding At The Whisky A Go Go £28.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Sundazed SKU: SUNDAZEDLP5133 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 2nd August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Archie Bell And The Drells Tighten Up Soul / Funk | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 20th November 2015 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Archie Bell And The Drells Tighten Up £20.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1556 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 20th November 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Donna Summer Mistaken Identity Soul / Funk | Crimson | 1LP Released 1st December 2014 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Donna Summer Mistaken Identity £25.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Crimson SKU: DBTMLP006 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 1st December 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Time, The The Time (Expanded Edition) Soul / Funk | Warner Music | 2LP Released 16th July 2021 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Time, The The Time (Expanded Edition) £25.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Warner Music SKU: 0603497843954 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 16th July 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Yellowstraps Tentacle Soul / Funk | Decca | 1LP Released 27th January 2023 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Yellowstraps Tentacle £22.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Decca SKU: 4562410 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Aretha Franklin Yeah!! 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