Neil Larson - Jungle Fever (1978) Horizon LP Only Release - Rare Jazz/Funk/Fusion

I first came across this guy,s Debut album "Jungle Fever" when frequenting the hippier Jazz/Funk/Soul clubs in the UK. Neil Larsen is from Florida, known as a keyboard player, composer, arranger and musical director. Neil is a multi-instrumentalist and has played a variety of instruments including: pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, trumpet, mandolin, accordion, flute, alto horn, flugelhorn.  He has 6 solo albums(that i have), has played on over 200 albums, and toured and composed for several top R&B, jazz, blues and pop performers,Miles Davis,George Harrison,BBking to name a few.  Growing up in Sarasota, Florida, he  received a Leonard Bernstein  scholarship to the Stan Kenton Clinics in Bloomington, Indiana when he was 14 years old, the youngest of several hundred students . Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, Neil was deployed to Viet-Nam as an infantry soldier.  After several months there, he was re-assigned to a special services unit, serving as a band leader of a band comprised of infantry soldiers that toured around Viet Nam & performed for U.S. soldiers. After his discharge from the Army in 1970, Neil moved to NYC and began playing on television jingles and record albums.Following that were albums and tours with Bonnie Bramlett, Gregg Allman, Roy Buchanan, Alex & Livingston Taylor and Cher.  Neil was signed to Philadelphia soul producers Gamble & Huff in the mid 70’s, working with the Soul Survivors, Don Covay and writing with Kenny Gamble.  After moving to L.A., he recorded with many other artists, including Jimmy Cliff, Randy Newman, Carly Simon, Bill Withers, Gregg Allman and gospel greats, the Mighty Clouds of Joy. In 1978, Neil performed on the first of several albums with George Harrison, toured with Doctor John and released his first solo album, “Jungle Fever”(FEATURED HERE) which featured Andy Newmark, Willie Weeks & Michael Brecker. This began a long association with producer Tommy Lipuma, who produced all of Neil’s solo efforts for the next 5 years. Tommy also produced the George Benson album, “Weekend in L.A.” which features the Neil Larsen composition, “Windsong”.
 In 1991, Neil played on B.B. King’s album, “There is Always One More Time”, the first of many projects with the blues legend. After a tour with Joe Sample in 1993, Neil performed in the Al Jarreau DVD/CD “Tenderness”, and recorded with Whitney Houston. He continued touring with Jarreau until 1997, including tours of South Africa, South America & a performance at the Vatican. He,s played with some of the greatest musicians around: Terry-Lynn Carrington, Steve Gadd, Ricky Lawson,  Michael Baker, Rickey Minor, Freddie Washington, Felicia Collins, Tony Maiden, Tris Imboden, Anthony Jackson, Charles Icarus Johnson, Larry Williams, Patches Stewart, Michael Paulo & N’Dea Davenport. He,s still perfoming and recording to this day in the USA.He was a member of Full Moon with his close friend Buss Feiten And has recorded a few albums with him as the Larson/Feiten band.

AMM

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                                                             Tracks & Line Up Below

Tracks

01 Sudden Samba
02 Promenade
03 Windsong
04 Emerald City
05 Jungle Fever
06 Red Desert
07 Last Tango In Paris
08 From A Dream


Line Up

Keyboards – Neil Larsen
Guitar – Buzzy Feiten
Alto Saxophone,Alto Flute – Larry Williams
Bass – Willie Weeks
Drums – Andy Newmark
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald, Ralph MacDonald
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Trumpet,Flugelhorn – Jerry Hey
Arranged By – Neil Larsen
Producer – Tommy LiPuma