Guide to CTI & Kudu Records (Jazz Label Guide No. 1; Episode 280)

[@FleagleSangria]

Excellent and well researched overview of these labels and a few of the desirable titles. Thanks!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Very glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for watching.

[@simonsartori2829]

Together with other university students, we watch your videos during class breaks, immediately afterwards we run to the record store here in Florence. Greetings from Italy, grazie!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

This comment warms my heart! I am glad you and your friends are digging jazz - and Italy is one of the great locations to find classic LPs. I wish you good hunting!

[@johnvandecker6027]

I just retired and now have time to go through my vast collection of jazz vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and streams. This is incredibly valuable, and looking forward to the complete series - I just listened to the BlueNote one. Thanks for all of your research and sharing your passion.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks John - that sounds like an excellent hobby in waiting. Glad you’re enjoying the guides.

[@deegee6046]

Excellent presentation Thanks

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

You are welcome!

[@karlbrowne6150]

Hi Allan. I’m very impressed with this foray into a more long form video. As ever, you pepper the video with a dazzling amount of well researched information but the transition to thirty minutes felt seamless and I now feel a little cleverer than I did before pressing “Play”! Up with this sort of thing!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Karl. Have a look at the Taylor interviews done by Marc Myers. Really interesting. His whole site is like quicksand!

[@gustavlans1850]

Hi there! I am a (Jazz)Music-lover from Sweden. I really dig Your album-talk with Jonas... I fell in love with Jazz thanks to my younger brother who then was playing jazz-guitar with a friend of his and being The Older (and wiser?!) brother I had to find out what the fuzz was about... They were playing Giuffre-songs which hit me like a ton of bricks. There I was whiteout a single jazz-album! Things had to change, and by god THEY DID! I now have collected nearly ALL of the albums on CTI; KUDU and SALVATION included. Even though I don-t own a copy of the Cathy McCord album which as a completist I GOTTA HAVE. I will now try to watch as many of your 10 Minute Record Reviews as I can! Thank You for guiding the collectors/Appreciators of GOOD MUSIC! MUSIC IS THE BEST!/Gustav

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Gustav - glad you like the videos and are enjoying your musical journey. Welcome to the channel :)

[@wadelindsey9707]

This is awesome thank you! I ended up here after buying a grover washington jr. album on Kudu. Great information.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Wade - which one did you pick up?

[@wadelindsey9707]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviews Inner City Blues - you’re right, “those boots.” I was only familiar with Mister Magic, but the guys at the shop recommended this one and I’m very glad I picked it up.

[@lostandfoundsounds]

I've been doing a weekly Album of the Week series of the CTI, Kudu, Salvation, etc. labels over at A&M Corner in our Jazz forum. It's been an informative deep dive into all of these records.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks - I'll check that out! I know next to nothing about Salvation save that I think neither Creed nor Rudy were involved.

[@brentcunliffe745]

Those other comments have nailed it . Informative, entertaining, ultimately hard on the wallet. Excellent.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Haha ain't that the truth.Thanks very much.

[@panagiotisargyropoulos2217]

Thank you for this one. Looking forward to more label guides.

[@TheJuggernautv2]

Ooooh, this is a great idea! There’s a lot that happened behind the scenes which ended up shaping (or hindering) some of our favorite artists.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks - yes, I'm looking forward to doing the next one.

[@2kettingen]

we need more of theese video's!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

There's another one on the way.

[@2kettingen]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviews amazing!

[@davidbaldwin5789]

Loved the video. Great new series!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrSpaziolibero]

Ty

[@twoeyerecords]

This is one of the best videos I have watched. Look forward to visiting your channel

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks very much. If you enjoyed this one the Blue Note guide just went up today FYI.

[@chriss7164]

Thanks for making this video. I didn't know too much about CTI. I can't wait to see videos about more jazz labels!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks - they’re in the pipeline, but will have to take my time :-)

[@JazzBums]

Just rewatched. Going to be getting into CTI more soon - this was super helpful. Thanks!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Glad it was helpful and thanks for watching!

[@AMJazzy96]

I studied jazz at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and I've never heard of this part of history before! A mind such as Creed Taylor did well to keep jazz relevant throughout the 70s. I've always felt that there was a bias and championing of Blue Note's long drawn out records. I've listed down all the mentioned records in the video and get myself schooled! Thanks Allan!!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thank you. Personally I don't necessarily subscribe all that much to Taylor's critique of Blue Note or 60s jazz. But I do feel it's odd for people to write off CTI records as lightweight while praising hugely commercial and danceable Blue Notes like The Sidewinder or Song For My Father in the same breath.

[@marksheargold5536]

Very good video. Well researched. Clearly a labour of love. I’ll look forward to future ones.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Mark, it was indeed a labour of love and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@victorbedrinov7387]

Finally someone to upload a video for this label, thanks man 😉

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed it.

[@jasonbentley8281]

Outstanding video. Thank you!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks for watching and I’m pleased that you enjoyed it.

[@paulvolpe862]

Good stuff here! CTI was one of the first Jazz labels I really dug into. Love to see a video on some of the independent labels like Black Jazz, Strata East, or Tribe. Thanks for doing this!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks for watching. Definitely going to dig into the 70s independents after I wade through the classics. Trouble is that collecting Strata East is an expensive vocation!

[@ryanz4772]

Unbelievably great video. Thank you man!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Ryan, glad you enjoyed it.

[@mariomarques9951]

Outstanding video. I hope you do many more like this on other labels. I learned a lot. I was a fan of CTI in the 70s, although I was wary of some overproduction at times - Sebesky especially tended to throw a lot of orchestration at times. The Freddie Hubbards and Joe Farrells were on my turntable a lot back then and I still have those LPs. I appreciate your ten minute reviews also.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Mario; I do agree that Sebesky and James could both overdo it sometimes!

[@xentakis]

Very cool, I’m REALLY looking forward to these.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks, me too. This one was more work, but it was fun to do.

[@philipbolton7265]

Excellent video. Really looking forward to the other labels, especially (my fav) Strata East. Appreciate the work that went into researching this video. Cheers.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Phillip. I appreciate the feedback and I had a lot of fun making it as well.

[@SoulconversationDuo]

This was an awesome episode. You are a legend!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Haha thanks! Not sure about that but it was a fun episode to do.

[@TheJazzHog]

Great video, can’t wait till the next one!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks for the feedback. More on the way!

[@kerrymcallister5182]

Really enjoyed this video, the early Creed history was really fun to discover as well as his relatively short journey to get to the point of completing his vision with CTI. I have quite a few CTI/Kudu in my collection, but not necessarily by intention. I came across these offerings on a slightly different path being that I am a drummer. In looking at the sessions on these releases I couldn't believe how many had the Billy Cobham/Ron Carter combo as the anchor, let alone how many times Steve Gadd or Jack DeJohnette showed up in the liner notes. As a Mahavishnu fan and solo Cobham fan, I was flummoxed to see these guys on these releases, only then to find just how good the music was. Hubbard, Laws, Deodato, Benson, Carter releases all just fantastic. I had a number of the Grover albums before I realized they were on the Kudu label. Funny how each of us come to this label in our own way, but it's the music vision that Creed had that keeps us listening and searching for more. Thanks for this video! Can't wait now to go watch more. Subscribed!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Kerry. I agree, via our own routes. My own path was via the random discovery of a copy of Mister Magic in a lot of records I’d bought at auction. Put it on and (a) couldn’t believe how good it was and (b) that it was produced by the same guy who had helmed “Girl From Ipanema.” Soon I was seeking out glossy laminated CTI releases like those by Hubert Laws and wondering why they were so cheap!

[@davidlg0478]

Great video, very informative. I only got into jazz about three years ago. It is my favourite genre of music now, I love hearing about the artists, the producers and the labels. Looking forward to part 2.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks, as am I. Gotta catch my breath first though :)

[@extraross1]

Hi Allan, Love what you are doing here. Fabulous, informative stuff. But there was one glaring omission when discussing CTI. Stanley Turrentine’s “Sugar” Other than that keep up the good work!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Fair comment - an egregious oversight :)

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Another top video Allan!!!! Thanks. I've been hugely passionate about jazz in the last few years and my CTI records include Freddie Hubbards 'Straight Life' is one of my 'dessert island' records. Lovely balanced recording and gorgeous sounding..the hubbard and turentine live in concert is unbelievably good (herbie on piano too) fabulous!! Thanks again

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Mark. That's one (the Hubbard and Turrentine) I've never heard. Appreciate the recommendation.

[@ergloo6660]

WOW thank you so much better than some other vloggers who can be too "snobbish"

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks. I am a total layperson in all this so the snob option isn't available :)

[@robertbarrientos4539]

I enjoyed the CTI/Creed Taylor episode. One factor you touched on was the ensemble behind the featured Musician. You do not see the incredible ensemble that moves from one album to the next.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

@@robertbarrientos4539 that was the secret. The house band that could make anyone sound funky as all heck.

[@mortofon]

A nice surprise and a great overview of Creed Taylor's career arc. As an Impulse collector, I have a soft spot for Taylor but I wasn't always a great fan of CTI (or Kudu). I have definitely come around on many, many titles in recent years. Very useful to know the timeline of the CTI catalogue series. Thanks again, Allan.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks. Jazz is a journey, eh? Incidentally I was somewhat embarrassed to realize in prepping for this that my copies of the first few Impulses were peppered with cheap 70s and 80s MCA re-releases. Will have to up my game before the Impulse episode.

[@mortofon]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviews Sent a little note re Impulse to the email address associated with this channel. Cheers.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Maurizio - didn't show up however. Try allan at castleconsulting dot ca, which is more direct.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Strike that. It did arrive, three hours later! Will reply via email.

[@djjoeykmusic]

Awesome job! I needed this! Awesome awesome! CTI and Kudu I learned so much! I am going to look into some of the titles you mentioned Grover Washington, Jr is my fav! Thank you so much!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Glad you liked it. I know you’re a DJ - this stuff is great rare groove material.

[@djjoeykmusic]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviews I will be watching it again and again. Right now checking out Lonnie Smith. Dig it man, funky I love funky soul r&b Thank you so much

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

@@djjoeykmusic nice and also check out his tune “Funk Reaction” on album of same name on LRC.

[@djjoeykmusic]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviews cool, will do! Thank you so much Kudu is awesome label. I love it Grover - mister Magic Artists I like a lot, Eric Gale, Dr gibbs, Ralph McDonald Live it bijou- classic Thank you so much

[@SmartDave60]

Great video. Regarding CTI’s packaging I think the image quality was of significantly higher resolution than other labels. On Jackie & Roy - Time & Love you can see ever hair on her head. Thanks!

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Yeah, Creed spared few expenses. That’s probably what did for the label in the end.

[@jondingwall5941]

Really enjoyable but I'm truly mystified as to why you omitted the greatest CTI album of them all in Jim Hall's 'Concierto'

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Probably because I don’t have it :)

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

This is a very, VERY good video - I'd say your top three (if not no. 1) so far. I own a few CTI-records and like them a lot - but has never put them or Creed Taylor into context (or known the path he followed). This I do now thanks to your amazing video. AND - just as good - I added another 20-30 records to my list of music, I want to get. I like (and buy) most of what Blue Note, Impulse etc. reissues these years, but it's nice to go digging for other labels and artists than these "big ones". So again - a big thank you for a splendid, thorough and well made video (which I watched at 0,9 x speed 🙂 Sounds more natural to me and I find it easier to follow - English is not my mother tongue)

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks for the kind words! I’m very glad you found it helpful. And in all likelihood, expensive haha.

[@rumpleforeskin1275]

Please do Capitol next

[@JazzVinylSurfer]

This was really informative since I knew the history of Blue Note and Prestige but CTI is one label I was (not till now) known with. Here in the Netherlands I only see the Deodato record frequently in the bins but no other records than that one. So the label wasn't on my radar till now. At the moment I only have Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard highly on my want list. But more will follow if my luck on record fairs is on my side 😉 But as always quality work 😁👍

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thank you. Yes the Deodato is not hard to come by - and fair enough, it's a bit of a pop oddity. The Hubbards are all good.

[@slyfondle1885]

"CTI which, of course, stands for Creed Taylor International" - except, of course, it actually stands for 'Creed Taylor Inc.'

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Quite right! Slip of the tongue.

[@edwardevans652]

Rest In Heaven to the Impresario, Visionary and Svengali, Creed Taylor. The man’s work and iconography is legendary. The music and Stoughton Tip-On jackets created an immersive listening experience that will live on forever. Creed was one of the last Jazz titans from a great era.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Preach!

[@HoolaaBaaloo]

Just a suggestion, there’s some interesting stuff on Mainstream Records, something a bit like Kudu releases

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks - I only have a couple of Mainstreams. Will need to investigate!

[@martinrivera5304]

not International....Incorporated. To talk about Creed, you should of started with Bethlehem, to ABC-Paramount to Impulse, Verve, then A&M to CTI...oh you did....good Job LOL

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks. And yup, quite right, slip of the tongue.