Zoranko a.k.a. Dedko is hear to set your mind and soul on a pleasant trip of smooth Jazz as he provides a dose of Funk on his interpretation of “Sugar”. This swinging Jazz standard composed by tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine is re-defined with a new smooth-flowing modern sound, and rhythm. On this 2013 version of “Sugar” Zorando shows off on arrangement and instrumentation with his use of synths paired with an entertaining performance on horn carried by a funky bass guitar groove.

The summer of 2012 marks the release of an EP by Soulive and Karl Denson dedicated to the life of influential jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks. "SPARK!"  feature their cover tunes by Soulive and Denson  which capture the unique CTI Jazz sound with authenticity as a standard of funky Jazz fusion which Mr. Sparks helped to define during his career. This special EP project was recorded in 2011 shortly after the unfortunate passing of Sparks.

"SPARK!" will be officially released on June 19 with an accompanied tour of Japan and New York to play songs from the project.

Creed Taylor's label CTI turned 40 this year, a landmark recording group which transformed the outlook of contemporary Jazz through the musical integrity, top-notch talent and collaborative efforts of it's artists. The vibe can still be felt in the work of contemporary musicians, producers and beatmakers who have taken influence from the great work of CTI Records to create memorable music. For your listening, I've pulled a few audible treats by today's artists who have used the CTI touch in their music.




Have you ever heard a reggae cover of Bob James' Nautilus? Check out this interesting one by Blundetto.




Check out this nice cover of "Feel Like Makin' Love" by UK musician Christopher Hargreaves.






For the Hip Hop heads, check out the break-neck production sound of Tall Black Guy Productions on his flip of Bob James' "Nautilus".



Here are some of my favorite Hip Hop songs which have used samples from CTI's catalog. I'm sure you can name many more of your own to pull from your collection right now for endless listening enjoyment:

George Benson

Heltah Skeltah - Operation Lockdown
Common - I Used To Love Her

Johnny Hammond

Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours
Eric B & Rakim - Casualties Of War
Dr. Dre - A Nigga Wit A Gun

Bob James

Group Home - Tha Realness
Redman - I Can't Wait
Onyx - Last Days

George Benson

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Physical
DJ Jazzy Jeff - For Da Love Of Da Game
Diamond D - Yo That That Shit

Milt Jackson

Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell Remix

Joe Farrell

A Tribe Called Quest - Verses From The Abstract

Freddie Hubbard

A Tribe Called Quest - Sucka Nigga

Hubert Laws

Nas - One + One feat. Large Professor
Large Professor - Spacey, The Mad Scientist
Deda Baby Pa - Too Close
Onyx - Shout
M.O.P. - Downtown Swinga II

Grover Washington Jr.

Organized Konfusion - Southside
EPMD - Underground
Black Moon - How Many MCs
K-Solo - The Fugitive
Gangstarr - Flip The Script

One of my favorite flutists who has provided memorable, beautiful sounds for my ear through jazz and hip hop music, Hubert Laws. It is not just the signature sound of his flute performance, but a fusion of different influences of other music genres, good production, writing, and the collaborations with fine musicians to combine for a deep listening experience that stands out from many jazz releases I listen to from the 70's.

As a musician, Hubert Laws is a great storyteller providing compositions to draw you into different spaces of thought and emotion through jazz improvisation and structured songwriting. I appreciate the distinct variation of moods I get when going from album to album, from the themes presented with each album (Family, Romeo & Juliet, San Francisco Concert, The Rite of Spring, Crying Song) a testament to Hubert's craft as an artist in providing this great music that tells a story. During the jazz-fusion era of the 70's, I feel like his music and collaborations with artists such as Bob James, Wade Marcus, Herbie Hancock and Freddie Hubbard gave us a level of depth and creativity in songwriting to be treasured for years to come, one reason why the work of these artists is still covered and sampled extensively.



Here is one of my favorites of the Hubert Laws catalog, 1976's Romeo & Juliet, this one to me is like his dreamy, summertime, feel good album and brings together many of the great sounds I love about this period of jazz music . The music plays like a scene you saw from a movie where a person was enjoying the feelings and moods from that season of the year:


Hubert Laws & Hip Hop


Nas & Large Professor - One + One Large Professor was no fool at utilizing a Fender Rhodes piano in hip hop, neither was Hubert Laws in his music. This dream-like instrument from Laws' The Rite of Spring album is used to provide the backdrop for the delivery of two Queens MCs.

M.O.P. - Downtown Swinga '96 Premier channels the dark side of Mr. Laws for a hardcore street classic.


Large Professor - Spacey an example of the varied emotion you could find in Hubert Laws music, this one sounds like scientifical madness to me.

Pete Rock & Deda - Too Close beautiful Rhodes sample combined with the hard drums for a classic in a way only Pete could do it.

Onyx - Shout these guys used jazz in a way that was pretty unassuming, flipping different parts toward a darker feel which represented their persona. This one off their second album is one of my favorites.

Bushwackas - Caught Up In The Game (instrumental) produced by Buckwild. My favorite direct use of Hubert's flute in a hip hop production, the sound of it at the start sets the mood off nicely. This song got me through my senior years of high school.