{"product_id":"gangsters-the-s-t-new-lp","title":"Gangsters, The – S\/T  – New LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes 12-page booklet featuring an oral history of surviving band members and archival photography.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=1611912945\/size=small\/bgcol=333333\/linkcol=0f91ff\/transparent=true\/\" seamless\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegangsterspdx.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-gangsters\"\u003eThe Gangsters by The Gangsters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eRecorded in the early 1970s, this collection of instrumentals is a crystal clear glimpse into a forgotten period of Portland’s music history. Fostered by the Albina Art Center, a hangout spot for creatively-inclined Black youth, The Gangsters were led by trumpeter Thara Memory who produced the sessions heard on this release. After gigging around the city for a few years, the group—who were almost all in their late teens—laid down some tracks at Ripcord Studios, but they disbanded soon thereafter and the tapes sat in a closet, unheard for over 40 years. With Thara Memory leading the charge, the music has a rich complexity, best exemplified by the nine-minute “Suite for Funk Band,” which runs through a series of movements that touch on Latin grooves and post-bop before culminating in an acid rock breakdown capped off by a devastating guitar solo.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor many members of The Gangsters, their careers would continue to flourish. The late Thara Memory became a renowned educator and won a Grammy for his work with Esperanza Spalding on\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eher 2013 album Radio Music Society. Jimmy and Johnny Sanders toured in B.B. King’s band throughout his final decade of performance. Bassist Lester McFarland would go on to play with jazz icons The Crusaders, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, and Tom Grant. But what this record captures is lightning in a bottle, a period when these young men crossed paths and created a burst of energy and light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased November 16, 2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll music arranged and produced by Thara Memory.\u003cbr\u003eRecorded at Ripcord Studios somewhere between 1970-1972.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Gangsters featured on this recording are:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichael Cooper - Alto Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eRob Manning - Electric Guitar\u003cbr\u003eLester McFarland - Electric Bass Guitar\u003cbr\u003eThara Memory - Trumpet\u003cbr\u003eJimmy Sanders - Rhodes Piano \u0026amp; Organ\u003cbr\u003eJohnny Sanders - Organ \u0026amp; Rhodes Piano\u003cbr\u003eMelvin Vann - Tenor Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eCalvin Walker - Drums\u003cbr\u003eRonnie Young - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExecutive production by Bobby Smith\u003cbr\u003efor World Arts Foundation.\u003cbr\u003eAudio transfer by Dave Fulton.\u003cbr\u003eMastered by Gus Elg.\u003cbr\u003eRecord pressing by Cascade Record Pressing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOral history by The Gangsters.\u003cbr\u003eOral history edited by Calvin Walker and Bobby Smith.\u003cbr\u003eInterviews recorded by Chase Spross and Bobby Smith.\u003cbr\u003eInterview location support by Marmoset and XRAY FM.\u003cbr\u003eInterview programming support by American Music Program.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArt direction by Eric Isaacson and Bobby Smith.\u003cbr\u003eCover and booklet design by Brian Mumford.\u003cbr\u003eCenter label design by Austin Tretwold.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis record was made possible with support\u003cbr\u003efrom the Regional Arts \u0026amp; Culture Council.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Albina Music Trust","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46547940868257,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0635\/1427\/files\/gang.jpg?v=1781567445","url":"https:\/\/store.greennoiserecords.com\/products\/gangsters-the-s-t-new-lp","provider":"Green Noise Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}