When R&B went high-tech in the '80s, genuine bands became harder and harder to find. There were still plenty of groups in the '80s and '90s, although honest-to-God bands that had nine or ten members and boasted full horn sections became the exception instead of the rule. When
Cameo and
the Ohio Players downsized in the '80s, you knew that large funk bands were becoming an endangered species. But back in 1977, when Mastermind's first and only album came out on Prelude, R&B was still full of large, horn-driven bands. Listening to this enjoyable, if uneven, LP, you won't be blown away by the singing -- Mastermind didn't have a great lead vocalist like
Earth, Wind & Fire's
Philip Bailey, L.T.D.'s
Jeffrey Osborne, or
the Commodores'
Lionel Richie to win you over. What you will appreciate is the overall sound of the band and the horn-driven, jazz-influenced, very danceable funk grooves -- cuts like "Mother Nature," "I Am Music," and "Hustle Bus Stop" could easily appeal to fans of
Brass Construction,
Mass Production, the Crown Heights Affair, or
BT Express. Several jazz musicians are employed as guests, including saxman
David Sanborn, trumpeter
Jon Faddis, and guitarist
Steve Khan. But none of them do a great deal of improvising -- they're only on board to support Mastermind, whose LP wasn't a big seller and has long been out of print but is worth acquiring if, by some chance, you come across a copy somewhere. ~ Alex Henderson