Name: By All Means
Brand: Alphonse Mouzon

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

0215722MSW

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-02-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4029759157229

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

0216970MSW

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4029759169703

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Alphonse Mouzon

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

MPS is a German jazz label that was founded in 1968 by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. It started as a successor to SABA and quickly gained recognition for its exceptional sound quality. Often compared to the renowned Blue Note label, MPS became known as Most Perfect Sound.

From 1971 onwards, MPS releases were distributed by BASF and later by Metronome Records GmbH (renamed Metronome Musik GmbH in 1977). However, in 1983, due to declining budgets for recording jazz music, Brunner-Schwer shifted his focus to classical music and sold the rights of MPS to Philips. Eventually, the label found its way under Polydor's ownership and its recordings were re-released by Motor Music starting from 1993.

In Hamburg, Universal Jazz Germany took over the MPS archives in 1999 while Speakers Corner Records released various vinyl reissues. After ten years since Brunner-Schwer's passing, Edel acquired MPS's back catalogue from Universal on January 7th, 2014. Now led by Andreas Brunner-Schwer and Friedhelm Schulz, the team has returned to Villingen where they continue recording new material.

At the time of his death in 2016 at the age of 68, drummer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Alphonse Mouzon had for decades been a major force within the jazz, fusion, R&amp;B and pop arenas. The early eighties was a time when Mouzon toyed with disco and channelled funk. His musical amalgam was a far cry from the Saturday Night Fever brand he brought more funk, more soul, more spontaneous creativity into the mix. 

For By All Means, Mouzon brought together musicians who were masters in virtually any musical style. The rhythm section belonged to the who's who of the LA studio scene.

Electric bassist Scott Edwards had worked with such stars as Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin. 

21-year-old guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. was just beginning his stellar career, had recorded with Aretha Franklin and within a few years he would participate in Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad and would go on to work with the likes of Elton John, George Duke, Al Jarreau, and Marcus Miller.

Lee Ritenour began playing and recording with Mouzon in 1974. At the age of 17, Ritenour first worked with Tony Bennett. He was also brought in to put a little more rock in the rock 'n roll of a couple of takes on Pink Floyd's seminal The Wall. Over the years he has recorded with many of the giants of pop, rock, and jazz, and his own recordings have had a slew of Grammy nominations.

Herbie Hancock stands beside Mouzon as the other major presence on the recording. Like Mouzon, at the beginning of the eighties he delved into disco, adding danceable grooves to the mix. During this period Mouzon was Herbie's drummer on four of Hancocks albums, so it seems appropriate that these two like-minded musicians came together for this recording. 

The Seawind Horns provide the last needed ingredient in this tasty musical concoction. Guesting on the title track, trumpet great Freddie Hubbards contributes a flashy solo. The album is a classic of the period, blending funk, disco, and improvisational creativity. 

By All Means, get out on your private dance floor and get up with it.