--=[ Tarika Blue ]=--

Tarika Blue - The Blue Path [1977]


Tarika Blue was formed in 1973 by pianist/keyboardist Phil Clendeninn. He was joined by Barry Coleman (bass), Kevin Atkins (drummer), Marvin Blackman (tenor sax), Justo Almario (soprano sax), James Mason (electric guitar), Fred Miller (english horn) and Ryo Kawasaki (electric guitar). The band’s many female singers included Lisa Fisher, Irene Datcher, Tequila, and Dolores Smith. As an interesting sidenote, Clendeninn was a member of the disco/funk band called the Big Apple Band along with then unknown Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Rodgers and Edwards went on to start the hit-making group Chic. Phil Clendeninn’s Tarika Blue group only released two albums, their debut “Tarika Blue” and “The Blue Path.” If you like jazz fusion and artists like Lonnie Liston Smith and Azymuth, you’ll enjoy this groove.
















Tarika Blue - The Very Best of [1976]


A New York-based ensemble led by keyboardist Phil Clendennin, Tarika Blue released two recordings in the late '70s that blended silky jazz fusion sensibilities and the mellow soul sound of the day that's now considered old-school.

For those of you who remember the James Mason album, and thought like me that it was a unique one, well here is its companion on the tiny Chiaroscuro label— with a similar sound and James himself participating on guitar & writing! This is a gem of an album, more instrumental than Rhythm Of Life, but with that eerie jazzy sound that's made it so great. A few cuts have vocals, and you'll also recognize a very famous Erykah Badu sample in the mellow number "Dreamflower" (the lady has some taste...). But the whole thing's fantastic, deep and so unjustly forgotten.


Tarika Blue ~ Dreamflower





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