Roy Ayers (born September 10, 1940) is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk.
Evolution: The Polydor Anthology charts Roy Ayers' 12 years and 20 LPs with Polydor, a rich time where his gliding, loose-groove jazz-funk gained many fans -- though perhaps fewer than it did 20 years later in the midst of the rare groove/acid jazz revival. During the 1970s, Ayers and his band, Ubiquity, progressed from political- and social-commentary funk to blaxploitation to disco to some surprisingly touching R&B ballads, and this two-disc set covers it all with grace and a smooth flow. Fans of hip-hop, groove music, funk, and jazz will all be able to find something to enjoy on the collection. Highlights include "We Live in Brooklyn Baby," "Evolution," "Running Away," and "Get on up, Get on Down," among others.
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).
01. Pretty Brown Skin
02. We Live in Brooklyn, Baby
03. He's a Superstar
04. Red Black and Green
05. Coffy Is the Color
06. Shining Symbol
07. Des Nude Soul
08. Fikisha
09. Change Up the Groove
10. 2000 Black
11. A Tear to a Smile
12. Evolution
13. Spirit of Doo Do
14. Life Is Just a Moment - Part I
15. The Golden Rod
16. The Third Eye
17. Everybody Loves the Sunshine
CD 2:
01. Searching
02. Vibrations
03. Running Away
04. Gotta Find a Lover
05. Freaky Deaky
06. Get on Up, Get on Down
07. Can't You See Me
08. You Send Me
09. Heat of the Beat
10. For Real
11. Love Will Bring Us Back Together
12. Turn Me Loose
13. Africa, Center of the World
14. Destination Motherland
