Sold Date: October 28, 2024
Start Date: October 21, 2024
Final Price: $355.00 (USD)
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James Mason "Rhythm Of Life" Vinyl LP Chiaroscuro Rare Original Pressing VIDEO

Label: Chiaroscuro original 1977 pressing
Record: This record was cleaned using the Spin Clean Record Washer and placed in a new record sleeve.  The original sleeve is missing.  As shown in the photo #s 9 & 10, there is a spot or defect on the vinyl on the very first song "Sweet Power of Your Embrace" on side one of the record.  This spot did not wash off with the Spin Clean washer and no other attempts were made to remove it.  The rest of the record is in very good plus condition with minor surface scratches that do not effect the play of the record.  A video of the actual record is included with this listing as a sample of the sound of the other tracks.  
Jacket: The jacket has some discoloration and spotting as shown in the photos.  There is a split of approximately 6" on the bottom edge.  
James Mason Rhythm Of Life LP (1977) Chiaroscuro Records Ranked #194 in the Soul Strut 200
In the late 70s, James Mason decided to move on from being Roy Ayers' ace guitar player and make a solo record on the jazz label Chiaroscuro recruiting the talents of  Narada Michael Walden on drums and Gene Torres on bass.  1977's Rhythm of Life is a sophisticated soul jazz gem.  The album makes great use of new technology of the time, manufacturing memorable synth grooves over the vocal talents of Clarice Taylor.  At the time, the album was too funky for jazz stations and too jazzy for soul stations, hence it faded into obscurity until it was revitalized in the 80s acid jazz scene in the UK. The most well known cut is  the only single "Sweet Power Your Embrace."  The track "Free" unveils Mason's Roy Ayers' jazz funk influence and "Slick City" is a happy jazz funker anchored by a smooth Rhodes groove.  Mason never went on to release another official album.  As the interest in him grew into the 00s, unreleased material surfaced including the proto-house tune "Nightgruv" and the Recollection ∈ Echo LP.