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Heavy Axe is the 1974 jazz-rock and funk masterpiece by legendary American composer, arranger and producer David Axelrod, bringing together his unmistakable orchestral approach with the powerful grooves and electric textures of mid-'70s jazz-fusion.
Axelrod surrounds himself with an exceptional cast of musicians, including Cannonball Adderley, George Duke and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Dense rhythm sections, electric keyboards, brass, strings and synthesizers combine to create the dramatic, cinematic sound that later made Axelrod's recordings such a rich source of inspiration for generations of hip-hop producers and sample hunters.
The album moves effortlessly between original Axelrod compositions and highly distinctive interpretations of contemporary material. His versions of Carly Simon's You're So Vain, Vince Guaraldi's Cast Your Fate To The Wind and Stevie Wonder's Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing are transformed through muscular jazz-funk rhythms, expansive orchestration and Axelrod's characteristic dramatic arrangements.
Elsewhere, tracks such as Get Up Off Your Knees, Mucho Chupar and the epic closing Everything Counts showcase the combination of deep grooves, psychedelic textures and ambitious orchestral writing that makes Heavy Axe one of the most distinctive albums in Axelrod's catalogue.
This acclaimed Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf edition was released in 2023. Cut directly from the original analogue master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, it was pressed on heavyweight 180 gram vinyl at RTI and presented in a faithfully reproduced tip-on jacket.
Track Listing:
Side A
Side B
