Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes "Starlight And You" (1977)

Lonnie Liston Smith started out playing straight-ahead acoustic jazz before becoming better known for embracing fusion, crossover, soul and funk with his 1970's band the Cosmic Echoes.

Smith was born in Richmond, Virginia, but it was in New York that Smith started getting a lot of work as a jazz pianist in the 1960's.

Greatly influenced by McCoy Tyner but quite distinctive himself, Smith played acoustic piano as a sideman for Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Betty Carter and Gato Barbieri but turned to fusion when Miles Davis hired him as an electric keyboardist in the early 1970's.
By 1973, Smith was ready to lead a band of his own into his greatest success in the 70's, which included David Hubbard, Cecil Mcbee, Lawrence Killian, Art Gore, and the unforgettable one two combination of his brother, vocalist extraordinaire Donald Smith, The Cosmic Echoes. Donald's vocal talents have not received the accolades he deserved, check Donald Smith out on Lonnie Liston Smith's album "Renaissance", the cut is "Starlight and You", when you hear this cut you'll see what I mean, this man's voice is so very erotic, and sensuous with deep spiritual intonations, you just got to give feel it.
The improviser made his recording debut as a leader with 1973's 'Astral Traveling' and continued to fare well in the fusion / crossover appeal with such offerings as 1974's 'Cosmic Funk' and 1975's 'Expansions'.
The atmospheric fusion, crossover, soul and funk that Smith played on his Cosmic Echoes dates of the 1970's had a very spiritual feeling.
If anyone bridged the gap between John Coltrane and Earth, Wind & Fire, it was Smith.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lonnie
• Liston
• Smith
• The
• Cosmic
• Echoes
• Starlight And You
• Jazz
• Funk

[Finessejbbootcamp]

Donald Smith lead the vocals on this song! They did this song on a old episode of Soul Train....they were on w/ Roy Ayers...thats was by far the best Soul Train music wise that I've seen. Thank God for Directv DVR .....i recorded it!

[soulsistah100]

Gorgeous! Perfect for listening in the middle of the night.

[sea8boys9]

i remember my uncle getting a copy of the album and i been hooked on this song ever since. love this song. thanks unk. miss u.

[gyypsyy]

I thx u 4 posting this gem; is there a way u can make it accessible on mobile

[nnowjazz]

I see brother Donald. Good band here.

[momandsteelerfan]

I was 18 when I bought this album.  Unfortunately I no longer have it. Fortunately, I never forgot about it and now I get to hear it again. Awesome!!!!!!!

[R37R0V1N7463]

proud to own 2 copies of this record

[herbalenquiry]

Holy shit! I just had an eargasm!

[MrCwinters1000]

I love the jazz today, but it does not compare to the jazz of yesterday.when I was younger I used to sit up all night listening to this type of jazz.

[msmandrill1]

I have been loving this song 4ever.Thanx for posting.Thanx WHUR for playing this for years.



[LEEFROMTHELAND]

@Finessejbbootcamp WORD UP FAM....I SAW AND RECORDED IT ALSO.....LONNIE WAS KILLIN THE KEYS

[Streamline09]

Where is Donald Smith today? Sublime singer.