Country/Region of ManufactureUSA
Additional informationPersonnel: Solid (vocals, rap vocals); Mark Ledford, C.L. Smooth, Chaka Khan (vocals); David Fiuczynski, Dean Brown , Dechown Jenkens, Bobby G, Kenny Burrell, Tony Purrone (guitar); Michal Urbaniak (violin); Branford Marsalis (saxophone, soprano saxophone); Kenny Garrett (saxophone, alto saxophone); Ernie Watts, Gato Barbieri, Javon Jackson (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Danny Walsh, Craig Handy, Dave McMurray, Bennie Maupin (saxophone); Tom Browne (trumpet, keyboards, background vocals); David Weiss , Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Jon Dryden (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Hilary James , LaMont Johnson, Larry Goldings, Patrice Rushen, Billy Childs, Cedar Walton (piano, keyboards); Joey DeFrancesco (organ, keyboards); Bernard Wright (keyboards); Mike Mainieri (vibraphone); Andy González (acoustic bass); Marcus Miller (electric bass); Lenny White (drums, timbales, programming, drum programming); Idris Muhammad, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Rodney Holmes, Billy Kilson (drums); Steve Berrios (percussion); Rich Keller (drum programming). Arrangers: Al MacDowell; Lenny White; Marcus Miller; Milan Simich; Rich Keller; Tom Browne; Bernard Wright. This sampler has one selection apiece from 14 of Hip Bop's first 15 releases, ranging from all-star projects to dates led by Lenny White, Michael Urbaniak, Tom Browne and the Meeting. Many top players make brief appearances (including saxophonists Gato Barbieri, Kenny Garrett, Branford Marsalis and Ernie Watts), and the music ranges from fairly straight-ahead to funk. A good introduction to the label, although the diversity of the music insures that most listeners would be more satisfied with one or two of the regular releases instead. ~ Scott Yanow