Willis Jackson ''Really Groovin'''

Willis Jackson

''Really Groovin'''
( LP Prestige Records, 1961 )
Catalog # PRLP 7196

Tracklisting:
A1 Careless Love
Written-By - Williams, Handy
A2 Oatmeal
Written-By - Johnny Griffin
A3 I Remember Clifford
Written-By - Benny Golson
A4 A Twist Of Blues
Written-By - Willis Jackson
B1 Sweet Peter Charleston
Written-By - Johnny Griffin
B2 Again
Written-By - Lionel Newman
B3 He Said, She Said, I Said
Written-By - Willis Jackson
B4 Girl Of My Dreams
Written-By - T.R. Stiglets

Personnel & Credits:
Bass - Peck Morrison , Wendell Marshall
Congas - Juan Amalbert
Drums - Gus Johnson , Mickey Roker
Other [Liner Notes] - Joe Goldberg
Piano - Jimmy Neeley , Richard Wyands
Producer [Supervision] - Esmond Edwards
Recorded By - Rudy Van Gelder
Saxophone [Tenor] - Willis Jackson

Notes:
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ, January 10, 1961
Format:Vinyl, Album, LP, Mono
Country:US
Released:1961
Company address on cover and label:
203 S. Washington Ave., Bergenfield, NJ

Review:
A fine, soulful jazz date, mostly slow blues and ballads, from one of the kings of honky-tonk saxophone. Jackson's smooth, Ben Webster-ish tenor playing is seldom surprising, but always satisfying. Originally recorded in 1961 for Prestige, this album was reissued in Japan in the early '90s.
By Joel Roberts
(AMG. Copyright © 2010 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.)

See also on Popsike.

Courtesy of Heup1

Johnny Lytle ''Be Proud''

Johnny Lytle

''Be Proud''
( LP Solid State Records, 1969 )
Catalog # SS-18044
New York City: 1969

Personnel & Tracklisting:
Johnny Lytle (vib, mar)
with unknown p, org, el-b, d, perc and chorus.

a. Be Proud (Of What You Are) (Johnny Lytle) - 2:30
b. You've Got To Love The World (Johnny Lytle) - 3:00
c. Rosen Forest (Johnny Lytle) - 2:43

same or similar, chorus out.

d. Daahoud (Johnny Lytle) - 2:39
e. Sit Tight (Johnny Lytle) - 3:00
f. Killiano (Johnny Lytle) - 2:41
g. September Of My Years (J. Van Heusen/S. Cahn) - 3:03
h. Above The Clouds (Johnny Lytle) - 2:48
i. Monday, Monday (John Phillips) - 2:35

Notes:
Issues: a-i on Solid State SS-18044.
Singles: a & b on Solid State SD 2523 [45].
Samplers: b also on Stateside (E) 8661572 [CD] titled TESTIFY II: 26 HUNKS OF FUNKY GROOVE. f also on Blue Note (E) CDP8543572 [CD] titled BLUE JUICE: SQUEEZE...TILL IT RUNS DOWN YOUR LEG.
Producer: Sonny Lester

Review:
A nice little sleeper of an album that has Johnny playing with a larger set of arrangements than you typically hear him in, and with a vocal group on a number of tracks. The set still has a good soul jazz groove, which you'd expect from Lytle at the very least, and spans a range of styles that stretches from funky to modal to Latin. Tracks include the spiritual title track, plus "Rosen Forrest", "Daahoud", "Killiano", and "Sit Tight". A tough one to find, too!
© 1996-2010, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

More info here.

By Pier

Ronnie Laws "Fever"

Ronnie Laws

"Fever"
( LP Blue Note Records, 1976 )
Catalog # BN-LA628-G

Tracklisting:
A1 - Let's Keep It Together 4:30
A2 - Fever 3:24
A3 - All the Time 4:00
A4 - Stay Still (And Let Me Love You) 7:24
B1 - Strugglin' 4:08
B2 - Captain Midnite 2:58
B3 - Karmen 3:47
B4 - Night Breeze 6:29
B5 - From Ronnie with Love 4:22

Personnel & Credits:
Backing Vocals - Augie Johnson
Bass - Wilton Felder (tracks: A3, B1, B4)
Bass [Electric] - Nathaniel Phillips (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5)
Cello - Jesse Ehrliect, Nathan Gershman, Raymond J. Kelley, Victor Sazer
Congas - Tony Ben (tracks: A3, B1, B4)
Drums - Bruce Carter (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5), Steve Guiterrez (tracks: A3, B1, B4)
Electric Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer [Arp] - Donald Hepburn (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5),
Michael Hepburn (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5)
Electric Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer [String Ensemble] - Bobby Lyle (tracks: A3, B1, B4)
Engineer - F. Byron Clark
Executive Producer - George Butler
Guitar - Marlon The Magician (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5)
Percussion - Bruce Smith (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5)
Producer - Wayne Henderson
Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano], Flute - Ronnie Laws (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B2, B3, B5)
Violin - Bonnie Douglas , Carroll Stephens, Elliott Fisher, Felix Sitjar,
Gordon Marron , Henry Ferber , James Getzoff,
Joy Lyle, Murray Adler, Paul C. Shure, Ronald Folsom, William Kurasch

Notes:
Recorded at The Total Experience Recording Studio in 1976
Mastered at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California
** Also issued on Blue Note CDP 7 89541-2

Review:
When Ronnie Laws first started recording as a leader in 1975, one of the saxman's strongest allies was Wayne Henderson. That trombonist and founding member of the Crusaders (originally the Jazz Crusaders) was an expert when it came to combining the accessibility of soul and funk with the freedom of jazz, and his guidance proved to be a definite asset when he produced early Laws albums like Pressure Sensitive (1975) and Fever (1976). The popular Grover Washington, Jr. was a strong influence on Laws, whose appreciation of Mr. Magic asserts itself on everything from the funky "Let's Keep It Together" and the gritty "Captain Midnite" to Bobby Lyle's alluring "Night Breeze." This isn't to say that Laws was a Washington clone, or that he unaware of other soul-jazz saxmen like Eddie Harris and David "Fathead" Newman. Laws, in fact, was quite recognizable himself on both tenor and soprano. One tune that definitely isn't in the soul-jazz vein is "From Ronnie with Love," an angular, cerebral post-bop offering that isn't unlike something Jackie McLean would do. Because Laws has recorded so many throwaways, one has to approach his catalog with caution; but rest assured that Fever puts his talent to work instead of wasting it.
By Alex Henderson
(AMG. Copyright © 2010 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.)

By Celo

Kenny Burrell ''K.B. Blues''

Kenny Burrell


''K.B. Blues''
( LP Blue Note Records, 1957 )
Catalog # GXF 3052

Tracklisting:
1.Nica's Dream (Horace Silver)
2.Out for Blood (Kenny Burrell)
3.K.B. Blues (Kenny Burrell)
4.D.B. Blues (Lester Young)
5.K.B. Blues [Alternate Take] (Kenny Burrell)

Personnel & Notes:
Louis Hayes (Drums)
Hank Mobley (Sax (Tenor))
Horace Silver (Piano)
Doug Watkins (Bass)
Kenny Burrell (Guitar)
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio,
Hackensack, NJ, February 10, 1957
** Also issued on Blue Note (J) GXK 8154

Review:
Worth searching for. Burrell with funky pianist Horace Silver and Hank Mobley on tenor sax. As you might guess, the tunes are mostly blues.
By Michael Erlewine (AMG)

By Pier

Various Artists "Chess Club Rhythm & Soul"

Various Artists

"Chess Club Rhythm & Soul"
( LP Kent Records UK, 1996 )
Catalog # 134

Tracklisting:
1. Mellow Fellow - Etta James
2. Messin' With the Man - Muddy Waters
3. Get Out - Mitty Collier
4. Summertime - Billy Stewart
5. Ooh Baby - Bo Diddley
6. You Left the Water Running - Maurice & Mac
7. Hey Mr. O.J. - Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces
8. Can't Make It Without You - Fred Hughes
9. Ain't It? - Jack McDuff
10. Let's Wade in the Water - Marlena Shaw
11. Fire - Koko Taylor
12. Do I Make Myself Clear? - Etta James/Sugar Pie DeSanto
13. Knife and a Fork, A - Kip Anderson
14. My Babe - Little Walter
15. Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson
16. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - Don & Bob
17. Who's That Guy? - The Kolettes
18. Here Comes the Judge - Pigmeat Markham
19. Function at the Junction - Ramsey Lewis
20. Grits Ain't Groceries - Little Milton
21. Must I Holler - Jamo Thomas
22. Every Day I Have to Cry - Steve Alaimo
23. Musty Rusty - Lou Donaldson
24. I Don't Wanna Fuss - Sugar Pie DeSanto
25. Hi-Heel Sneakers - Tommy Tucker

Credits:
Etta James, Marlena Shaw, Mitty Collier, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley (vocals); Lou Donaldson (alto saxophone); Jack McDuff (organ), and more.

Review:
This compilation is a good but peculiar British import of 25 Chess tracks from the 1960s, with the anachronistic exception of Little Walter's 1955 classic "My Babe." It's mostly soul, but sometimes blues, and sometimes a mixture of the two. There's not a solid concept linking the selections, except perhaps that they were (and are) considered good songs to dance to at English clubs. For the most part these are fairly obscure cuts that aren't that easy to pick up in the States, though a few -- "My Babe," Little Milton's "Grits Ain't Groceries," Billy Stewart's "Summertime," Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me," and Tommy Tucker's "Hi Heel Sneakers" -- are apt to already be in the collections of soul and blues fans who are likely to be interested in a LP like this. The choosy buyer would probably want this more for the lesser-known items, and there are some good ones here, such as Etta James' robust, brassy 1964 outing "Mellow Fellow," Muddy Waters' blues-with-horns "Messin' with the Man," Don & Bob's raucous rock version of "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," the Kolettes' girl-group-soul "Who's That Guy," and soul-jazz from Lou Donaldson, Ramsey Lewis, Brother Jack McDuff, and Bobby Moore. You won't find cuts by Fred Hughes, Marlena Shaw, Kip Anderson, and Jamo Thomas on many other anthologies, Chess-only or otherwise. There are a lot of Ace/Kent compilations geared toward soul specialists that are pretty scattered in focus; although this is one of them, it's one of the best. The tracks are very respectable at worst, and excellent at best. The source label put out so much quality stuff, and this is a good supplement to the libraries of those looking to fill out their Chess sections.
25 track compilation goes back to the 60's club concept, mixing blues, jazz & soul w. Muddy Waters, Etta James, Lou Donaldson, Marlena Shaw, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton, Sugar Pie DeSanto.
By Richie Unterberger (AMG)

By Celo

Various Artists "Blues For Tomorrow"

Various Artists

"Blues For Tomorrow"

( LP Riverside Records, 1957 )

Catalog # RLP 12-243

Personnel & Tracklisting :
01 East Coast All-Stars - Blues For Tomorrow 13:32
Wilbur Ware -Bass
Art Blakey -Drums
Coleman Hawkins , John Coltrane -Tenor Saxophone
Ray Copeland -Trumpet
Gigi Gryce -Alto Saxophone

Reeves Sound Studios, NYC, June 25, 1957

02 Herbie Mann's Californians - A Sad Thing 5:03
Buddy Clark -Bass
Mel Lewis -Drums
Jimmy Rowles -Piano
Jack Sheldon -Trumpet
Herbie Mann - Clarinet [Bass]

Capitol Tower, Los Angeles, CA, July 3, 1957

03 Sonny Rollins Quartet - Funky Hotel Blues 6:00
Paul Chambers - Bass
Roy Haynes - Drums
Sonny Clark - Piano
Sonny Rollins - Tenor Saxophone

Reeves Sound Studios, NYC, June 19, 1957

04 Mundell Lowe Quintet - Let's Blow Some Blues 7:54
Les Grinage -Bass
Ed Thigpen - Drums
Billy Taylor - Piano
Gene Quill - Alto Saxophone
Mundell Lowe - Guitar

Reeves Sound Studios, NYC, April 10, 1957

05 Bobby Jaspar Quartet - The Fuzz 6:15
Wilbur Little - Bass
Elvin Jones - Drums
George Wallington - Piano
Bobby Jaspar - Tenor Saxophone

Reeves Sound Studios, NYC, May 28, 1957

** also issued on Fantasy OJC 030, OJCCD 030-2.

Review :

The success of this project will make listeners wish jazz of this ilk had been more frequently released in nifty compilations such as this. It is like some kind of heat-and-serve DJ set, complete with a cover that looks like a hand-colored landscape shot from a '50s science fiction movie, perhaps "Invasion of the Bluesy Snatchers." A key part of the success of any compilation is to avoid the issue of quality through careful programming or some other inexplicable mojo. Since it is impossible for every track to have the same equal value, a compilation relies on charades, presenting an image of the epic and universal appeal of music as pure enjoyment, song to song, whether it is a genius leading the band or...well, Herbie Mann. It is surely no question of fame, since the latter artist was at least for a time the commercial equal if not the better of tenor saxophone genius Sonny Rollins, whose "Funky Hotel Blues" is the ultimate performance here. In terms of quality, comparing his improvisations with the flute wheezing of Mann is like comparing Chateaubriand with "hot 'em" burgers. Yet few listeners will probably bail out of the flutist's "A Sad Thing," possibly because there is a kind of intense happiness that comes from knowing it is the sole track by this Mann in the collection, but also because it is actually an effective, moody instrumental, and not the only one to be hampered not by the lack of a really good jazz soloist. Guitarist Mundell Lowe, who could always use some more recognition, becomes a champion by suggesting to his quintet "Let's Blow Some Blues." His playing is so strong that one imagines that if this performance had actually followed that of Rollins on a stage, nobody in the audience would have complained. There are many classic jazz players lurking in the wings as this collection of tracks unfolds. The first 13 and a half minutes would make a tremendous first act in a play, a loose jam on a tune by Gigi Gryce that is full of the marvelously happy spirit of hard bop.

By Eugene Chadbourne [AMG]

Note : FLAC (not available on the blog free edition in this format)

By Rob

Joe Sample/David T. Walker "Swing Street Café"

Joe Sample/David T. Walker

"Swing Street Café"

(LP MCA Records, 1981)

Catalog # 254 257-1

Personnel:

James Jamerson : Bass

Earl Palmer : Drums

David T. Walker : Guitar

Joe Sample : Keyboards

Ernie Fields , Herman Riley , John Kelson : Saxophone

Albert Aarons, Trumpet

Tracklisting:

1. Hallelujah, I Love Her So (5:02) [Ray Charles]

2. Rockhouse (3:38) [Mabelle Smith]

3. Honest I Do (3:29) [J.Reed-E.G.Abner,Jr.]

4. Next Time U See Me (4:52) [E.Forest-B.Harvey]

5. Woke Up This Morning (4:15) [R.King-J.Taub]

6. C.C. Rider (4:15) [Chuck Willis]

7. Honky Tonk (5:15) [B.Dogget-S.Shepherd-C.Scott-B.Butler-H.Glober]

8. After Hours (4:30) [Gilbert Roe]

Recorded: November 29,30, 1978 at A&M Recording Studios

Review :

After releasing three very successful solo albums of contemporary jazz in a row -- 1978's Rainbow Seeker, 1979's Carmel, and 1980's Voices in the Rain -- Crusaders' pianist Joe Sample decided that a return to his roots was necessary, and recorded this date with famed soul and jazz session guitarist David T. Walker and released this tribute to classic rhythm and blues. Interestingly, the date had actually been recorded between Rainbow Seeker and Carmel, but remained unreleased until 1981 because of the chart success of the previous albums and his sold-out touring dates as a solo act and with the Crusaders. Sample and Walker hired the best in the business and the rhythm section here is made up of Motown bassist James Jamerson and famed Capitol session drummer Earl Palmer. In addition, the pair hired a horn section comprised of Herman Riley, Al Aarons, John Kelson, and Ernie Fields, Jr. The material is made up of wonderfully articulated covers of R&B touchstones such as Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So," Jimmy Reed's "Honest I Do," Chuck Willis' "C.C. Rider," and Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk," to name a few. Produced by the Crusaders own production company, this date was recorded in two days and feels like its participants had a ball. Sample is at his most boisterous here, playing both Rhodes piano and upright, letting it just rip with both boogie-woogie runs, tough blues licks, and extended vamps (check his Professor Longhair New Orleans style barrelhouse piano on a cover of "Woke Up This Morning" where Walker lets loose too). Walker is an understated but brilliant guitarist in the same league with Phil Upchurch. He's a bit more meat and potatoes here; he's always funky and in the groove, but elegantly so. This adds a nice textural element to these otherwise hard swinging, gutbucket tunes. This album suffers from none of the production curses that doomed so much of '80s jazz and funk. It's merely a celebration by old friends of the music that shaped them.

By Thom Jurek [AMG]

By Rob