PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
Release Date: 01 January 2007
Label: Pure Pleasure Records
Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5060149620045
Release Date: 07 November 2025
Label: Mr Bongo
Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5024017006461
Description
180g audiophile vinyl reissue, mastered by Kevin Gray at Acoustech Lacquers plated by RTI, pressed by Pallas.
This gem of an album from Ramon Morris, and one of the hardest to find on Groove Merchant, was recorded during what many people would consider to be the classic period for this particular brand of jazz/funk/soul/fusion. It was recorded not long after he'd spent time with Art Blakey as a Jazz Messenger appearing on his 1972 Prestige album Child's Dance along with Stanley Clarke and Woody Shaw. He then also recorded on the Woody Shaw album, also from 1972, Song Of Songs.He now teaches at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.
One of the rarest and best albums on Groove Merchant now available re-mastered on 180 gram vinyl.
Personnel: Ramon Morris: tenor saxophone/Albert Dailey: electric piano/Mickey Bass: bass/Mickey Roker: drums/Cecil Bridgewater: trumpet/Lloyd Davis: guitar/Tony Waters: congos
Description
Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished '70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.
Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.
A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you'll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of '70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz. Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris.
Description
Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished '70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.
Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.
A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you'll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of '70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz. Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris.
Tracklisting
Tracklisting
Tracklisting
Nas
Ana Frango Eletrico
Marvin Gaye & Studio Rio
Pedro Santos
Joao do Pife
Rubel
COIO3 (SOYUZ)
COIO3 (SOYUZ)
mtbrd
Goodge
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Ana Frango Eletrico
Da Lata
Various
Trio Ternura
Sly & the Family Stone
