Shifting Gears

Recorded in 1975 for Johnny Hammond's album Gears, the track was produced by the Mizell Brothers and featured an ensemble that included leading Los Angeles session musicians. Hammond's electric keyboards were combined with layered horns, synthesizers and funk rhythms characteristic of the Sky High Productions sound. The recording was a key example of the fusion of jazz improvisation, funk grooves and studio sophistication that defined mid-1970s jazz-funk. It helped establish Gears as one of Hammond's most acclaimed albums. The track became highly regarded among rare-groove collectors and was extensively sampled by hip-hop producers for its drums, bassline and atmospheric instrumentation. It remains one of the best-known recordings from Hammond's catalog.