I'm enjoying this thread, possibly more than the notional book that @Rabshakehis writing on the subject
A personal take, listening to Sanborn, The Crusaders and Grover in the mid-late 70s I had no concept of them as Jazz but as extension of War, EW&F etc. This was definitely "Soul Boy" music.
(and this at a time when an initial exposure to A Love Supreme left me completely cold and befuddled).
I now realise that they were very important early gateways to many years of Jazz listening and as such I request our esteemed writer gives them a chapter in his book.