Street Rhythm

Rip It Up, Issue 26, 1 September 1979, Page 13

Street Rhythm

Ken Williams

Crusaders Street Life

MCA Crusaders' saxman-bassist Wilton Felder says, “The heartbeat of man is felt in the street." It’s a fitting comment on this excellent album. Street Life pulses with vitality. It has an implied energy that is absent from so much of the so-called jazz-fusion. For the first time the Crusaders are working with a vocalist, Randy Crawford, who sings on the 1-minute title track. The groups says they wanted to bring in a vocalist, but someone not too well known. Randy Crawford is perfect. Her voice compliments the Crusaders’ instrumental sound wonderfully, and they give her a great street anthem.

The album throbs with the rhythms of tyre rubber and neon lights, fast foods and fast nights, city driving and sidewalk strolling. It's a very impressionistic work, with the tugging rhythms suggesting constantly changing night images. To my mind, Street Life - is the Crusaders' best work.

The group has reduced to.three members, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder and f'Stix” Hooper. Numerous "guests”.'.fill out the sound, but there's no loss of identity for the Crusaders.' Street Life topped American jazz charts. Deservedly so. It's one of the most rewarding albums I've heard, more than fulfilling the promise of their previous, excellent Images, their first album since the departure of guitarist Larry Carlton.