Ndugu & The Chocolate Jam Co - Do I make you feel better ? 1980 Lp

Leon (Ndugu) Chancler (born July 1, 1952) is a jazz funk drummer, percussionist, studio musician, composer and producer. Chancler was born in Shreveport, Louisiana Ndugu attended Locke High School in Los Angeles where, at the age of thirteen, he began to play the drums. During his High School years, he worked with Willie Bobo and Harold Johnson Sextet. Upon graduation, Ndugu studied music education at California State University, Dominguez Hills. While in college he performed with the Gerald Wilson Big Band, Herbie Hancock and High Masakela. At age nineteen Ndugu had performed and recorded with such greats as Miles Davis, Freedie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Eddie Harris, Harold Land and Bobby Hutcherson. Ndugu has worked on several Grammy nominated albums and has numerous production and co- production credits.

Ndugu Chancler is known not only as a world-class drummer and percussionist, but also a producer, composer, clinician and teacher. A three-time Grammy nominee, he has to his credit an extensive list of performances, recordings, original compositions and productions. As a studio musician, he has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Hubert Laws, The Crusaders, Frank Sinatra, Weather Report, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Thelonious Monk and John Lee Hooker. He was the drummer on the biggest selling pop album by Michael Jackson, Thriller, providing the beat on “Billie Jean.” As a producer and songwriter, he has written hits for The Dazz Band and George Duke, and produced for Flora Purim, Bill Summers, Toki and his own solo recordings. He has co-produced recordings for Santana, The Crusaders, George Duke, Tina Turner, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder and The Meeting, the group he co-leads with Patrice Rushen and Ernie Watts.

In the late 70s, he formed group called "The Chocolate Jam Co". They released two albums in 1979 and 1980 on Epic Records. On the second album entitled "Do I make you feel better?" Leon "Ndugu" Chancler wrote most of the songs. Also great musicians helped him, such as Byron Miller and Hilliard Wilson on bass, Reggie Andrews and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards, David T.Walker, Al McKay and Roland Bautista on guitars, Ronnie Foster on piano and organ. Oscar Brashear, Bobby Bryant and Ray Brown on trumpet. Hubbert Laws on flute, Ronnie Laws on soprano sax, George Bohanon, Garnett Brown, Clay Lawry and Maurice Spears on trompones. On vocals Leo Miller, Maxi Anderson, Gwen Evans, Josie James, The O'Jays and Jones Girls.

Concertmaster by Charles Veal Jr. Strings and Horns by Reggie Andrews. Produced by himself. I have chosen two tracks entitled "Come into my life again" and "Give your love". The last was written by Ndugu along with Virginia Ayers. Virginia Ayers who also had composed another song for Leon Chancler in 1979 called "Time". Virginia had sung for Bill Summers and Phyrework two years ago.

Note: The above posted tracks are not played in full