When Funk Met the Jazz Orchestra
Muhammad's groove engine powered a disco-soul crossover that left the jazz purists behind entirely.
By 1977, Idris Muhammad had already built a reputation as a steady, swinging drummer on the Kudu label, but Turn This Mutha Out marked a deliberate departure from that identity. This wasn't a natural evolution — it was a strategic pivot toward R&B and disco that traded his core audience for radio play and chart action. Producer and arranger David Matthews designed the album explicitly for commercial pop and soul markets, a rare move for a Kudu release under owner Creed Taylor's usually jazz-forward vision.
The title track and "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" both became genuine hits, riding Muhammad's propulsive drumming and a lush orchestral arrangement anchored by Michael Brecker's tenor saxophone solo and Hiram Bullock's guitar work. The sound is slick and assembled — Margaret Ross's harp, strings, Clifford Carter's synthesizer — layered to catch ears on FM radio, not in jazz clubs. Randy Brecker and Jon Faddis on trumpet add polish rather than grit. It's competent, occasionally fun, and almost entirely removed from what made Muhammad's earlier work compelling.
The album sits awkwardly in his discography: too commercial for serious listeners, too jazz-orchestrated for the soul audience it chased. AllMusic's 3.5-star rating captures that sense of skilled execution without conviction. This isn't where to start with Muhammad, and it's not his peak. It's a side road taken when the industry called, and the album's very existence says more about late-70s label strategy than about the drummer leading the session.
Who's playing
Wilbur “Bad” Bascombbass
Charlie Brownguitar
Hiram Bullockguitar, solo
Michael Breckersolo, tenor saxophone
Ronnie Cuberbaritone saxophone
David Tofanisolo, soprano saxophone
Randy Breckertrumpet
Jon Faddistrumpet
Clifford Cartersolo, synthesizer
Rubens Bassinipercussion
Sue Evanspercussion, solo
Margaret Rossharp
Where next?
More by Idris Muhammad
All 17 albums →
The musicians on this record
Pilgrimage 2007
Michael Brecker
plays solo here
plays solo here
♫
Youngblood 1976
Jon Faddis
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
Amanda 1985
Randy Brecker
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
