View basket “Say The Word” has been added to your basket. 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 Bootsy Collins World Wide Funk Soul / Funk | Mascot | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes Download Code Released 27th October 2017 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bootsy Collins World Wide Funk £20.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Mascot SKU: 0819873014737 Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes Download Code Released Date: 27th October 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Marvin Gaye Midnight Love Soul / Funk | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 30th May 2013 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Marvin Gaye Midnight Love £19.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP754 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 30th May 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Supremes, The Supreme Rarities: Motown Lost & Found Soul / Funk | Third Man Records | 4LP, Box Set Released 6th April 2018 £76.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Supremes, The Supreme Rarities: Motown Lost & Found £76.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Third Man Records SKU: TMR506 Formats: 4LP, Box Set Released Date: 6th April 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Various Artists Soul Weekender Soul / Funk | Sony Music | 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 25th May 2018 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists Soul Weekender £19.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Sony Music SKU: 19075842611 Formats: 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th May 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View James Brown And The Fabulous Flames The Roots Of Revolution Soul / Funk | Southern Routes | 1LP Released 29th April 2016 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders James Brown And The Fabulous Flames The Roots Of Revolution £24.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Southern Routes SKU: LPSR3001 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 29th April 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Eli Paperboy Reed 99 Cent Dreams Soul / Funk | Yep Roc | 1LP Released 12th April 2019 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Eli Paperboy Reed 99 Cent Dreams £19.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Yep Roc SKU: LPYEP2640 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 12th April 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Aaron Neville Hercules The Minit & Sansu Sessions 1976 -77 Soul / Funk | Charly | 180g, 1LP Released 28th July 2014 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Aaron Neville Hercules The Minit & Sansu Sessions 1976 -77 £17.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Charly SKU: CHARLYL154 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 28th July 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Sarah Brown Sings Mahalia Jackson Soul / Funk | Live Records | 180g, 1LP Released 2nd September 2022 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sarah Brown Sings Mahalia Jackson £21.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Live Records SKU: SBSMJLRLP001 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 2nd September 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Jackie Wilson Hes So Fine Soul / Funk | Rumble Records | 180g, 1LP Released 27th July 2016 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Jackie Wilson Hes So Fine £17.00 Genre: Soul / Funk Label: Rumble Records SKU: LP771964 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 27th July 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Gloria Coleman feat. 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