Charles Earland ”Funk Fantastique”

Charles Earland

”Funk Fantastique”
( Prestige Records, 2004 )
Catalog # PRCD-11030-2

Tracklisting:
1 Funk Fantastique (10:50)
Congas – Sonny Morgan
Flute, Piccolo Flute – Hubert Laws
Saxophone [Baritone] – William Thorpe
Trombone – Dick Griffin
Trumpet – Lee Morgan
2 Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream (5:05)
Congas – Buddy Caldwell
Drums – Jesse Kilpatrick
Guitar – Maynard Parker
Saxophone [Alto, Soprano] – Jimmy Vass
Saxophone [Tenor] – Houston Person
Trumpet – Gary Chandler (2)
3 Never Can Say Goodbye (6:09)
Congas – Buddy Caldwell
Drums – Jesse Kilpatrick
Guitar – Maynard Parker
Saxophone [Alto, Soprano] – Jimmy Vass
Saxophone [Tenor] – Houston Person
Trumpet – Gary Chandler
4 Charles III (6:10)
Acoustic Guitar – Stuart Scharf
5 Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind (4:58)
Acoustic Guitar – Stuart Scharf
6 Auburn Delight (8:39)
Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
7 My Favorite Things (5:58)
Saxophone [Soprano] – Charles Earland
8 Grab ‘Hole A Dis!! (7:45)
Congas – Sonny Morgan
Flute, Piccolo Flute – Hubert Laws
Saxophone [Baritone] – William Thorpe
Trombone – Dick Griffin
Trumpet – Virgil Jones
9 Speed Ball (Alternate) (4:33)

Personnel & Credits:
Congas – Lawrence Killian (tracks: 4 to 6)
Drums – Billy Cobham (tracks: 1, 8, 9)
Drums, Percussion – Darryl Washington (tracks: 4 to 7)
Guitar – Maynard Parker (tracks: 1, 8, 9)
Guitar, Percussion – Jackie Turner (tracks: 4 to 7)
Piano [Electric], Organ, Percussion – Charles Earland
Saxophone [Baritone], Flute [Alto] – Seldon Powell (tracks: 4 to 7)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Billy Harper (tracks: 1, 8, 9)
Saxophone [Tenor], Flute [Alto] – Billy Harper (tracks: 4 to 7)
Trombone – Garnett Brown (tracks: 4 to 7)
Trombone, Tuba – Jack Jeffers (tracks: 4 to 7)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Joe Shepley (tracks: 4 to 7),
Jon Faddis (tracks: 4 to 7), Richard Williams (tracks: 4 to 7),
Victor Paz (tracks: 4 to 7)

Notes:
Tracks 2 and 3 recorded May 3rd, 1971.
Tracks 1, 8, 9 recorded February 17th, 1972.
Tracks 4-7 recorded February 14th, 1973,
originally released on ‘Charles III’.
Other selections previously unreleased.
Country: US
Released: 03 Aug 2004
Also on Fantasy/Prestige 11030

Review:
Although Funk Fantastique is a somewhat thrown-together affair, the music presented on the album represents solid work by organist/keyboardist Charles Earland and company. The material at the center of the album (tracks four through seven) was originally released as Charles III in 1972, and the surrounding tracks are previously unreleased. Since the unreleased material comes from two different sessions, three different ensembles grace Funk Fantastique. The presence of singer Joe Lee Wilson on the dated “Auburn Delight” (think cheesy ’70s jazz) offers even more variety. Through it all, though, Earland’s funky organ and keyboard brings all the material together under the banner of soul-jazz. Even on an unsuccessful and sexist piece like “Auburn Delight,” Earland’s organ work has a brisk, spunky quality that makes the instrumental portion of the song sparkle. Much better, however, are “Charles III” and “Girl, You Need a Change of Mind,” both supported by large, energetic horn sections. There’s also some solid guitar work from Jack Turner on the latter piece. Among the unreleased tracks, there’s a fun version of “Never Can Say Goodbye,” the old Jackson 5 hit, with nice soprano work by Jimmy Vass. Funk Fantastique never ties up all of its loose ends, but it nonetheless lives up to its title.
By Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. (AMG)

By Pier