Roy Ayers Evolution: The Polydor Anthology CD

Vibraphonist Roy Ayers recorded with Polydor throughout the 1970s and into the '80s, establishing the blueprint for the groove-centered soul-jazz he had built his name on. The '70

Includes liner notes by Tom Terrell.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Compilation producer: Harry Weinger.

Personnel: Roy Ayers (vocals, strings, piano, electric piano, Clavinet, organ, synthesizer, vibraphone, marimba, bass marimba, congas, hand claps, percussion); Calvin Brown (vocals, guitar); Harry Whitaker (vocals, piano, electric piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, organ); Edwin Birdsong (vocals, piano, organ, background vocals); Jaymz Bedord (vocals, Clavinet, synthesizer, cowbells, hand claps, background vocals); Dennis Davis, Billy Cobham (vocals, drums); Chano O'Ferral (vocals, congas, bongos, percussion); Las Chicas (vocals, percussion, background vocals); Debbie Cole, Carla Vaughn, Ethel Beatty, Wayne Garfield, Marva Hicks, Sylvia Striplin, Terri Wells (vocals, background vocals); Marguerite Arthurton, Sylvia Cox, Merry Clayton, Stan Richardson, Bruce Fisher (vocals); Chuck Anthony (guitar, electric guitar, hand claps); Jerry Friedman (guitar, electric sitar); Greg Moore (guitar, background vocals); James Mason , Glen Jeffery, Samuel "Little Sonny" Brown, Calvin Banks, Bob Fusco, David Barron, Billy Nichols, Bob Rose, Richie Resnicoff (guitar); Philip Woo (strings, harmonica, piano, electric piano, synthesizer, mini-Moog synthesizer, Moog synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (strings, electric piano); Emanuel Brown, Peter Dimitriades, Alfred Brown , Charles McCracken, Emanuel Vardi, Selwart Clarke, Kermit Moore, Irving Spice, Harry Lookofsky (strings); Sonny Fortune (flute, soprano saxophone); George Braith, Alexander Foster, Joe Brazil, Richard Clay (soprano saxophone); Seldon Powell (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Justo Almario (tenor saxophone, background vocals); Bob Clark (tenor saxophone); Babe Clark, Arthur Clark (baritone saxophone); Jon Faddis, Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Mosley (trumpet, background vocals); Jimmy Owens, Lew Soloff, Charles Tolliver (trumpet); Garnett Brown, Wayne Andre, Wayne Henderson (trombone); Leon Pendarvis (piano, electric piano, Clavinet); Lesette Wilson, Onaje Allan Gumbs (electric piano); William Allen (synthesizer, ARP synthesizer, marimba, shekere, hand claps, bells); Pat Rebillot (synthesizer, ARP synthesizer); Richard Bass (acoustic bass, electric bass); John Williams , John Williams (electric bass); Ricky Lawson (drums, background vocals); Doug Rhodes, Quintin Denard, Steve Cobb, J.T. Lewis, James Gadson, Alphonse Mouzon, Omar Hakim, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Wilby Fletcher (drums); William King (congas, bongos, percussion); Billy King, Daniel Ben Zebulon (congas, percussion); Jumma Santos (congas); Dom Um Romao, Vance "Mad Dog" Tenort, Willie Michael (percussion); Terry Burrell, Carol Smiley, Tamara Richardson, Debbie Darby, Laverne Seabrook, Claudia Moore, Kerry Turman, Gregory Matta, Michael Young, Carl Clay, James King , Johnny King , Debbie Burrell, Gloria Jones, Byron Miller (background vocals).

Audio Remasterer: Gary N. Mayo.

Audio Remixer: Gary N. Mayo.

Liner Note Author: Tom Terrell.

Recording information: 1970-1981.

Director: Richard Bauer.

Arrangers: Edwin Birdsong; Harry Whitaker; Carl Clay; Wayne Garfield; Roy Ayers; William Allen.

Personnel includes: Roy Ayers (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, clavinet, vibraphone, vibraharp percussion, synthesizer); Wayne Garfield, Dee Dee Dridgewater, Chicas (vocals); Harry Whitaker (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, clavinet, harpsichord); Edwin Birdsong (vocals, organ); Seldon Powell (baritone saxophone); Jon Faddis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Garnett Brown (trombone); Jerry Friedman (guitar, electric sitar); Billy Nichols (guitar); Emir Ksasan (bass); Alphonse Mouzon (drums); William King (congas, bongos, percussion).

Producers: Myrnaleah Williams, Jerry Schoenbaum, Roy Ayers, Maurice Green, Wayne Henderson.Vibe (4/95, p.104) - "...master of the thinking man's groove....A wonderful sampling of Ubiquity's funkiest, most fruitful period....Ubiquity command bossa nove beats..., rest in bluesy pastures...and kindle nationalistic flames with the same aplomb. What remains constant in his music...is the feeling of spaciousness and celebration..."