PlayersAssociation

The
Players
Association

    Players, a term that refers to musicians that play on a recording session. Association, a group, clique, or collective. The name Players Association was fitting for the revolving group of musicians that were led by Chris Hills. Chris had been playing on sessions for nearly a decade before hatching the idea of the Players Association. Hills, like the other Players, had a background steeped in jazz. In 1976-77 disco was still in it's infancy stages and the lines between musical genres was very blurred. Club hits were defined by a particular genre that was made danceable. Latin, R&B, Pop, Swing, African, and even Jazz flavored the songs being heralded on the dance floors.
     When Hills put together the first album, "Players Association," in 1977 he chose original songs as well as covers of Diana Ross' "Love Hangover" and Archie Bell & the Drells' "Let's Groove." The songs did attract the attention of music-starved D.J.'s but failed to garner any radio play. Some well-known jazz musicians appeared on the largely instrumental effort, including trumpeter Jon Faddis and the late tenor saxman/flutist Joe Farrell; and the band's pleasant version of the Isley Brothers' "For The Love Of You" was obviously aimed at the emerging quiet storm market. The album is essential not just for it's quality but for it's place in early disco history.
     The list of jazz improvisers who appear on the Players Association's second album, 1978's "Born To Dance," is impressive; tenor saxman Michael Brecker, alto saxman David Sanborn, trumpeter Jon Faddis, and guitarist Steve Khan are among the participants. And percussionist James Mtume, who has jazz credentials but is best known for producing, writing, and performing R&B, is also on board. Once again the focus is on covers, like the Trammps "Disco Inferno," and originals. "How Do You Like It," "Everything's Gonna Be O.K.," "Make It Last All Night," and other songs that were written or co-written by leader/drummer/arranger Chris Hills are catchy but failed to chart. The fact that Vanguard kept releasing their cover tunes as 12" singles had many viewing them as just a covers band.
     All that changed with the group's third album, 1979's "Turn the Music Up!" The band's smooth jazz version of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's "The Closer I Get To You" isn't earth-shattering, but the guys really soar on an instrumental interpretation of Chic's "Everybody Dance" and the infectious originals "Ride The Groove" and "Turn The Music Up!" which both charted giving the Association their first legitimate hits. The lineup on this release boasted the talents of trumpeter Tom Harrell, tenor saxman Bob Berg, keyboardist Pat Rebillot, and trumpeter Marvin Stamm. It remains their most commercially successful release.
     By the time of 1980's "Let Your Body Go" the disco market had collapsed and the group shyed away from attacking disco music head on. Instead their focus shifted to a purer R&B sound. Of the six tracks "The Things You Get Me To Do" and "Get On Up Now" are the most accessible, however the album is largely a forgotten release.
     By the time of their 1981 release, "We Got The Groove," the Association had evolved from a jazz-covers band to a full fledged R&B outfit. This, their final album, contained no covers of pop or disco hits. The 12" single of "The Get Down Mellow Sound" easily became a club favorite as did the title track and "Dance, We're Almost There." All of the excellent material was written by leader/drummer/arranger Chris Hills.
     Hills disbanded the Association in 1981 but has continued on as musician, producer and arranger. In the mid-1980's he was a player with Members Only, then worked with Mark O'Conner and Sally Harmon. Most recently he has worked with Steve Marcus and as a member of Everything's Jake Swing Quartet.
     Sadly their is no compilation honoring the works of Hills and his co-horts. We honor them here for their crucial work in the disco/jazz field and treasure our vinyl albums of the some of disco music's most interesting music.