The Crusaders (US jazz group)

~ Group

Annotation

The Jazz Crusaders were started in 1961 by Joe Sample (piano), Wilton Felder (tenor sax), Stix Hooper (drums), and Wayne Henderson (trombone). The group employed a number of bassists (and also a few guitarists) throughout the '60s. As the decade progressed the Jazz Crusaders moved from a more bop-oriented sound and began to incorporate more soul and R&B influences.

In 1971 the band shortened its name to The Crusaders, which made sense seeing as they were playing much more funk than jazz. The core group of Sample, Felder, Hooper, and Henderson remained and they added guitarists Larry Carlton and bassist Robert "Pops" Popwell. Henderson left the Crusaders in 1975, with Hooper leaving in 1983.

Henderson subsequently revived the "Jazz Crusaders" moniker (over Sample's objections) for 1995's Happy Again, and was joined by Wilton Felder and Larry Carlton. This new group (officially known as "Wayne Henderson's Jazz Crusaders") released a series of recordings in the late 1990s, but the music bore little resemblance to the acoustic, hard bop style of the original group. In 2003, Sample, Felder, and Hooper revived The Crusaders.


The Jazz Crusaders were started in 1961 by Joe Sample (piano), Wilton Felder (tenor sax), Stix Hooper (drums), and Wayne Henderson (trombone). The group employed a number of bassists (and also a few guitarists) throughout the '60s. As the decade progressed the Jazz Crusaders moved from a more bop-oriented sound and began to incorporate more soul and R&B influences.

In 1971 the band shortened its name to The Crusaders, which made sense seeing as they were playing much more funk than jazz. The core group of Sample, Felder, Hooper, and Henderson remained and they added guitarists Larry Carlton and bassist Robert "Pops" Popwell. Henderson left the Crusaders in 1975, with Hooper leaving in 1983.

Henderson subsequently revived the "Jazz Crusaders" moniker (over Sample's objections) for 1995's Happy Again, and was joined by Wilton Felder and Larry Carlton. This new group (officially known as "Wayne Henderson's Jazz Crusaders") released a series of recordings in the late 1990s, but the music bore little resemblance to the acoustic, hard bop style of the original group. In 2003, Sample, Felder, and Hooper revived The Crusaders.

Annotation last modified on 2019-04-26 01:00 UTC.

Discography

Compilation

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
2018The Classic Pacific Jazz AlbumsThe Jazz Crusaders1

Album

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
1961Freedom SoundThe Jazz Crusaders25
1962Lookin' AheadThe Jazz Crusaders2
1963Tough TalkThe Jazz Crusaders1
1964Heat WaveThe Jazz Crusaders1
1964Jazz WaltzLes McCann & The Jazz Crusaders2
1964Stretchin' OutThe Jazz Crusaders1
1965Chile Con SoulThe Jazz Crusaders32
1965The ThingThe Jazz Crusaders1
1966Talk That TalkThe Jazz Crusaders1
1967Uh HuhThe Jazz Crusaders2
1968PowerhouseThe Jazz Crusaders2
1970Old Socks New Shoes - New Socks Old ShoesThe Jazz Crusaders3
1970Give Peace a ChanceThe Jazz Crusaders1
1971Pass the PlateThe Crusaders54
1972Crusaders 1The Crusaders43
1972HollywoodThe Crusaders3
1973The 2nd CrusadeThe Crusaders4
1973Unsung HeroesThe Crusaders1
1974Southern ComfortThe Crusaders3
1975Chain ReactionThe Crusaders24
1976Those Southern KnightsThe Crusaders24
1977Free as the WindThe Crusaders33
1978ImagesThe Crusaders3
1979Street LifeThe Crusaders3.510
1980Rhapsody and BluesThe Crusaders34
1981Standing TallCrusaders32
1984Ghetto BlasterThe Crusaders1
1986The Good and Bad TimesThe Crusaders2
1988Life in the Modern WorldThe Crusaders2
1991Healing the WoundsThe Crusaders2
1995Happy AgainThe Jazz Crusaders1
1996Louisiana Hot SauceThe Jazz Crusaders1
1998Break'n Da Rulz!The Jazz Crusaders1
2003Rural RenewalThe Crusaders2
2003Soul AxessThe Jazz Crusaders1
Chain Reaction / Those Southern KnightsThe Crusaders1

Album + Compilation

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
1975The Young RabbitsThe Jazz Crusaders1
1976The Best of the CrusadersThe Crusaders1
1987Vocal AlbumThe Crusaders3
1989Sample A DecadeThe Crusaders1
1992The Golden YearsThe Crusaders2
1993The Best of...The Jazz Crusaders1
1994The Crusaders and Beyond...The Crusaders1
1995The Ultimate CollectionThe Crusaders1
1995The UltimateThe Crusaders1
1995The Greatest CrusadeThe Crusaders1
1996Way Back HomeThe Crusaders1
1998Priceless Jazz CollectionThe Crusaders1
2000The Crusaders' Finest HourThe Crusaders43
2000The Best of the CrusadersThe Crusaders1
2002At Their BestThe Crusaders1
2003Groove CrusadeThe Crusaders2
2005The Pacific Jazz Quintet Studio SessionsThe Jazz Crusaders1
2007GoldThe Crusaders2
2014Complete Live At The Lighthouse '62The Crusaders1
20175 Original AlbumsThe Crusaders1
2021The Jazz Crusaders: Deep Dive!The Jazz Crusaders1
16 Original World Hits - Golden Gate CollectionCrusaders1
BestThe Crusaders1
Soul ShadowsThe Crusaders1

Album + Live

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
1966Live at the Lighthouse ’66The Jazz Crusaders2
1967The Festival AlbumThe Jazz Crusaders2
1968Lighthouse '68The Jazz Crusaders3
1969Lighthouse '69The Jazz Crusaders1
1974ScratchThe Crusaders4
1982Royal JamThe Crusaders with B.B. King and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra33
1993Live in JapanThe Crusaders1
2004Live in Japan 2003The Crusaders1
2006The Jazz Crusaders at The LighthouseThe Jazz Crusaders2
2006Alive in South AfricaThe Jazz Crusaders1
2016Live - New Orleans 1977The Crusaders1

Single

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
1962Sinnin' SamThe Jazz Crusaders1
1964BluesetteLes McCann & The Jazz Crusaders1
1970Way Back Home / Jackson!The Jazz Crusaders1
1971Pass the Plate / Greasy SpoonThe Crusaders1
1972Put It Where You Want ItThe Crusaders1
1974Stomp and Buck DanceThe Crusaders1
1979Street LifeThe Crusaders2

Showing official release groups by this artist (Show all release groups / Show official various artist release groups / Show all various artist release groups)