Jazz in the late 70s / early 80s (jazz goes pop, jazz goes disco)

Yes, thanks for the Byrding guide; I've only heard "Christo Redentor" and a few other tracks occasionally played on my local jazz station (also remember the Blackbyrds a little bit).
Several thread-relevant albums here: https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2020/the-best-reissues-of-2020 (the Fela prob has considerable jazz appeal too, I suspect). And they're all linked to bandcamp pages: Billy Brooks, Pharoah Sanders, self-funded Shirley Scott, South Africa's Heshoo Beshoo Group, advance bits of which I was totally buzzed by over on Rolling Reissues---the only one I hadn't heard or heard of was Brooks:

Windows Of The Mind Billy Brooks
BUY
GO TO ALBUM
Merch for this release:
Vinyl LP, Compact Disc (CD)

Billy Brooks established himself as a sought after session musician in the 1950’s, rubbing shoulders with Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, and Cal Tjader. Charles was clearly impressed by the funky trumpeter; in 1974, he signed Brooks to his sub-label Crossover Records, releasing the upstart’s Windows of the Mind LP the same year. Closing song “Forty Days”—famously sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on their enduring classic “Luck of Lucien”—is the album’s best-known track by a wide margin, but Brooks’ legacy runs much deeper than passing references: “Rockin Julius” is a lively flash of fashionable 1970’s funk, while “Jagged Edge” harks back to a more 1950’s film noir style. The album promises glimpses into the various windows of Billy Brooks’ mind. Turns out, they’re all pretty chill, not to mention genius. Album's page adds info that it's co-produced by Charles and featuring such heavy players as Herman Riley, Calvin Keys and Larry Gales. Will check.

I have a friend who is definitely not a music nerd, but got obsessed with Idris Muhammed's 'Could Heaven Ever Be Like This' as part of his frequent midlife fungi adventures. He wanted more and had no idea where to go, so I made him a big playlist and referencing this thread was very helpful, shouts out.

Some relevant stuff on this intriguing, recently revived thread, which I didn't recall having seen before: Miroslav Vitous -- Magical Shepard

Good call, definitely adding New York City on there. And definitely sampling the break on Aim Your Eye. ;)

Cool! Also, come to think of it, way back when Bobby Previte reappeared with Coalition of the Willing(2007) and his group of the same name, I was unexpectedly stimulated to connect with several 70s-80s intersections, trying to balance for new cadets and old hands----archived here:
https://papercomet.blogspot.com/2018/06/

& note link from that to Previte's bandcamp, where he's posted tons ov amazers.

Some of the albums I mention are from a bit later than 70s-80s, but in very much the same spirit.