Sons and Daughters of Lite

Transport yourself back nearly thirty years to the Bay Area. You are checking out a jazz funk collective that describes their sound as a mix of African rhythms, Latin flavors and Far Eastern textures. Sounds interesting? Then read on . . .

Formed in Oakland in the early 1970s the Sons and Daughters of Lite released an album called "Let The Sunshine In" - a record which has recently become a hugely collectable item. Packed with soul, funk and heavy percussion, this 100% righteous re-issue will please collectors and fans of the Luv n' Haight series. Featured in the album is "Darkuman Junktion" , a downtempo funky nugget that appeared on the Luv n' Haight compilation "Soulful". Also included is the outrageously funky title track which became a jazz dance classic this past year, courtesy of heavy play by top UK DJ Gilles Peterson. No one-hit wonder, the album makes for a solid listen beginnning-to-end and will appeal to fans of Oneness of Juju, blaxploitation soundtracks and early 1970s Roy Ayers.

As soon as it became public knowledge that Luv n' Haight owned the rights to this album our phones rang off the hook. Record companies called wanting to license tracks from the album - check the top notch "Incredible Sounds" and "Jazz Biznizz "compilations. But here are all the tracks, available for the first time on CD and LP, remastered and subtley re-packaged to keep the integrity and spirit of the original album in check.

Also included is a special LP-size poster insert comprised of superfly pictures, handbills, and memorabilia from gigs played nearly 30 years ago. Infact the Sons and Daughters of Lite energetic sounds earned them stage appearances with the likes of Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, Freddie Hubbard and Stanley Turrentine.

The term Sons of Lite comes from the Ancient Egyptian Mystery System, a center of organized culture, not unlike Universities. The Egyptians had 3 grades of Mystery System students: Mortals (probationary students who were instructed, but who had yet experienced the inner vision) Intelligences (those who had attained inner vision) and The Creators or Sons of Lite (those who had experienced true spiritual consciousness).

Many members of the band enjoyed solo music careers and are still recording now. Original band leader Basuki Bala is currently a member of the Afro-Carribean Allstars, and percussionist Babatunde is recording a new jazz record for Ubiquity. Trumpet player Marty Payne doubled up as a producer for the quintessential experimental jazz label, Strata East, and vocalist Aisha Kahlil.