San Francisco-based R&B / Funk / Rock group SASS was formed in 1974 by lead singer Fred Ross and producer, guitarist, vocalist Andy “Andro” Ernst. During the mid 70s SASS recorded three now rare demo singles released on San Francisco’s INS label. The group performed live alongside well-known artists such as Lionel Ritchie & The Commodores, Esther Philips, The Main Ingredient, Brass Construction and Tower Of Power. In 1976 SASS got signed to 20th Century Records which released remixed versions of their demo songs “I Only Wanted To Love You” and “Do It” on a 45. A full-length album was later recorded in 1977 but none of these songs ever saw the light of day...until now. The unreleased tracks featured on this present issue were the last songs recorded by the band for their major label album project that was unfortunately abandoned. Transferred directly from the only existing 2 track master tape of the sessions, these never before heard songs can now be listened to in their full glory. At long last, High Jazz Records is happy to present the complete recordings from SASS. More

Repress!

Influenced by the modal jazz of John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ambiance was an excellent but little known post-bop group that was active in Los Angeles in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Ambiance reflected the spiritual outlook of its founder and leader Daoud Abubakar Balewa, a saxophonist/flutist who also played African and Latin percussion and was heavily influenced by world music. More