Charles Kynard ”Wa-Tu-Wa-Zui (Beautiful People)”

Charles Kynard

”Wa-Tu-Wa-Zui (Beautiful People)”
( LP Prestige Records, 1970 )
Catalog # PR 10008

Tracklisting:
1. Zebra Walk (Kynard)
2. Wa-Tu-Wa-Zui (Beautiful People) (Fritz)
3. Winter’s Child (Fritz)
4. Change Up (Kynard)
5. Something (Harrison)

Personnel:
Bass [Fender] – Jimmy Lewis
Drums – Bernard Purdie (tracks: B1) , Idris Muhammad
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Organ, Electric Piano – Charles Kynard
Producer – Bob Porter
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Saxophone [Tenor] – Rusty Bryant
Trumpet – Virgil Jones

Notes:
Date of Release: Dec 14, 1970

Review:
Kynard is joined by luminaries from Prestige’s soul-jazz stable — Rusty Bryant on tenor sax, Melvin Sparks on guitar, Jimmy Lewis on bass, Virgil Jones on trumpet and Idris Muhammad & Bernard Purdie on drums — for a solid album that occasionally catches fire. In particular, the eight-minute title track is not just a highlight of Kynard’s discography, but a stellar moment for soul-jazz in general. Sparks sets the pace on that number with superb James Brown-style rapid-strum choke guitar, Lewis lays down a “Get Ready”-style bass line, and everyone really cooks when it comes time to solo, including Kynard; he takes a while to make his presence known, but then unleashes passages with uncharacteristic unrestrained passion. The ten-minute cover of the Beatles’ “Something” does a lot more with the overdone standard than many people have, Kynard again shining with some imaginative and unexpectedly lengthy, exuberant soloing.
By Richie Unterberger (AMG)

By Pier

Charles Kynard ”Reelin’ With The Feelin’”

Charles Kynard

”Reelin’ With The Feelin’ ”
( LP Prestige Records, 1969 )
Catalog # OJC-333 (P-7688)

Tracklisting:
1 Reelin’ With The Feelin’ (7:22)
2 Soul Reggae (4:54)
3 Slow Burn (6:30)
4 Boogalooin’ (6:18)
5 Be My Love (6:16)
6 Stomp (5:05)

Personnel:
Bob Porter Producer
Wilton Felder Sax (Tenor)
Rudy Van Gelder Engineer
Carol Kaye Bass (Electric), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Bass)
Charles Kynard Organ, Organ (Hammond), Main Performer, Piano(Electric)
Joe Pass Guitar
Paul Humphrey Drums

Notes:
Recorded in Los Angeles; August 11, 1969.
Wilton Felder appears courtesy of World Pacific Records

Review:
Although Charles Kynard led a date for Pacific Jazz in the early ’60s and five albums for Prestige from 1968-1970, he never really became famous. A fine organist in the style of Jimmy Smith, Kynard could always groove and chug along with the best of them. This Prestige date (reissued on an LP in the Original Jazz Classics series but not yet on CD) matches Kynard with an interesting cast of players: tenor saxophonist Wilton Felder (of the Jazz Crusaders), guitarist Joe Pass (a few years before he became famous for his Pablo recordings), electric bassist Carol Kaye, and drummer Paul Humphrey. The music is quite groove-oriented and chiefly of interest for the contrasting solos of Kynard, Felder, and Pass. [The entire album has been combined with another 1969 session, The Soul Brotherhood, on Prestige's 2001 CD reissue The Soul Brotherhood.]
By Scott Yanow (AMG)

By Pier

Charles Kynard ”Your Mama Don’t Dance”

Charles Kynard

”Your Mama Don’t Dance”
( LP Mainstream Records 1973 )
Catalog # MRL 389

Tracklisting:
A1 Superstition (4:44)
A2 The World Is A Ghetto (2:59)
A3 Momma Jive (3:26)
A4 I Got So Much Trouble (5:06)
B1 Your Mama Don't Dance (2:36)
B2 Zambezi (5:34)
B3 Summer Breeze (3:25)
B4 You've Got It Bad Girl (3:47)

Personnel:
Organ - Charles Kynard
Bass - Chuck Rainey
Drums - Paul Humphrey , Ray Pounds
Guitar - Arthur Adams
Trombone, Bass Trombone - David Roberts, George Bohanon
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - James Kartchner , Jerry Rusch

Review:
Funky organ and plenty of vamping -- a really tight little set from the mighty Charles Kynard -- who's working here with a really wide-ranging command of the keyboard! As with some of the other Mainstream Records sessions of the time, the backings here are somewhat full -- arranged and conducted by Richard Fritz with a style that's almost soundtrack funk at points, but which still has a more jazzy feel overall -- thanks to the space given to Kynard's organ solos, and to backings from players who include George Bohannon on trombone, Arthur Adams on guitar, and Paul Humphrey on drums. The set features a surprising cover of Joe Quarterman's classic "I Got So Much Trouble On My Mind" -- one that's almost as funky as the vocal original -- plus "The World Is A Ghetto", "Superstition", "Zambezi", "Summer Breeze", "Momma Jive", and "You've Got It Bad Girl".
From Dusty Groove America

By Pier

Charles Kynard ”Woga”

Charles Kynard

”Woga”
( LP Mainstream/Red Lion Records, 1972 )
Catalog # MRL 366

TRACKLISTING (total time 36:18) :
1. Little Ghetto (3:04) [DeRouen-Howard]
2. Hot Sauce (4:32) [Richard Fritz]
3. Lime Twig (3:43) [Richard Fritz]
4. Slop Jar (9:12) [Richard Fritz]
5. Rock Steady (3:13) [Aretha Franklin]
6. Name The Missing Word (3:21) [Banks-Jackson-Crutcher]
7. The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) (2:58) [Ewan MacColl]
8. Shout (6:15) [Richard Fritz]

CREDITS (productions) :
Produced by Bob Shad
Musical Supervision : Ernie Wilkins
Arranged and Conducted by Richard Fritz
Photography : David Shepard
Cover Design : Maurer Productions

CREDITS (musicians) :
Charles Kynard : electric organ
Chuck Rainey : Fender bass
Arthur Adams : electric guitar
David Roberts : trombone, bass trombone
George Bohanon : trombone, bass trombone
James Kartchner : trumpet, flugelhorn
Jerome Rusch : trumpet, flugelhorn
Paul Humphrey : drums

Released: 1972

REVIEW :
Sweet organ lines, heavy drums, and a great little groove throughout — a tight batch of groovers from the mighty Charles Kynard! The keyboardist is in fine 70s form here — stepping away from the sparer sound of his albums for Prestige with a fuller style for Mainstream Records — in a groove that’s almost part blacksploitation funk, thanks to some sharp backings from arranger Richard Fritz! The mighty Paul Humphrey is at the bottom of the set on nicely funky drums — and other players include Arthur Adams on guitar, Chuck Rainey on bass, and some great additional horns, which give the record a larger jazzy finish, but never get in the way of Kynard’s lean, mean organ lines. There’s a great version of “Rock Steady” on the album, one that has a great funky intro — plus the cuts “Shout”, “Lime Twig”, “Slop Jar”, “Name The Missing Word”, “Little Ghetto Boy”, and “Hot Sauce”.

By Pier

Charles Kynard ”Charles Kynard”

Charles Kynard

”Charles Kynard”
( LP Mainstream/Red Lion Records, 1971 )
Catalog # MRL 331

Tracklisting :

1. El Toro Poo Poo – 3:10
2. Greeze – 4:37
3. She – 6:31
4. Grits – 6:43
5. Greens – 4:37
6. Nightwood – 2:26
7. It’s Too Late – 9:18

Notes:
(w/King Errison)

Review:
A great album from organist Charles Kynard — one of his best that wasn’t issued on Prestige! This is one of the funky jazz LPs on Mainstream that really hits a nice groove, with Bob Shad’s crisp production dovetailing with Kynard’s jazz funk sensibilities just right — not too slick or uptight at all! Kynard’s backed here by a nice little LA combo that includes Carol Kaye on bass, King Errison on conga, and Ernie Watts on tenor — all players who relax nicely into the groove, and let Charles hit a sweetly gliding sort of line on the Hammond. The overall groove is similar to his earlier Prestige soul jazz classic Reelin’ With The Feelin — but with shorter, tighter tracks, and more emphasis on the funk side, which is what we love to hear! Titles include “She”, “Nightwood”, “Grits”, “El Toro Poo Poo”, “Greeze”, and “Greens”.

More Info Here.

A very special thank to the blog contributor
VICHAKANI
for this rare gem!

Courtesy of Vichakani

Charles Kynard ”Professor Soul”

Charles Kynard

”Professor Soul”
( LP Prestige Records, 1968 )
Catalog # PRST 7599

Tracklisting:
01.Professor Soul A1 06:47
02.Cristo Redentor A2 04:34
03.Song Of Delilah A3 06:45
04.Sister Lovie B1 05:42
05.By The Time I Get To Phoenix B2 07:50
06.J.C B3 05:27

Personnel:
Charles Kynard (org)
Cal Green (g)
Johnny Kirkwood (d)
Record date : Los Angeles, CA, August 6, 1968

Review:
Charles Elliot Kynard, born February 20, 1933 in St. Louis (MO)
and died July 8, 1979 in Los Angeles (CA).
Hammond virtuoso and electric-bass player, Kynard didn’t become too famous for two reasons: he just played in his local L.A. instead of touring, and he recorded very few sessions.
Nevertheless, his artistry was enormous and his recordings are true gems.
He was too busy to devote himself to a successful career as a jazz musician. During the day he worked with mentally retarded children, at night he played at local clubs and on sunday he played organ at his church. Even so, he had time for his wife and children.
Kynard was a master at different styles. Playing funk he could have rivalled Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes in speed and accuracy; his blues were delightful and when it came to slow down he knew how to add an airy touch letting the others play.
His recordings were scarce but he shared studio with top notch artists like Les McCann, Houston Person, Grant Green and Idris Muhammad.

By Pier

Info: The Legends Of Acid Jazz List

Legends of Acid Jazz series

24167 Boogaloo Joe Jones (Boogaloo Joe/Right on brother)
24168 Rusty Bryant (Night train now/Soul liberation)
24169 Sonny Stitt (Turn it on/Black vibrations)
24170 Idris Muhammad (Black rhythm revolution/Peace & rhythm)
24171 Melvin Sparks (Sparks/Spark plug)
24175 Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers – Best of Pucho & the LSB (bits & pieces)
24176 Bernard Purdie (Purdie good/Shaft)
24177 Johnny “Hammond” Smith (Soul talk/Black feelin’)
24178 Don Patterson (Exciting new organ of DP + other trax from session – mainly “Hip cake walk”)
24179 Houston Person (Person to person/The Houston express)
24184 Jack McDuff (Bits & pieces 1965-1969)
24185 Leon Spencer (Sneak preview/Louisiana Slim)
24186 Sonny Phillips (Sure ‘nuff/Black on black)
24187 Richard “Groove” Holmes (The groover/That healin’ feelin’)
24188 Gene Ammons (Black cat/You talk that talk (w Stitt))
24196 Various artists – Hammond heroes (some great stuff in here not issued in the series)
24197 Billy Butler (This is BB/Night life)
24198 Willis Jackson (Blue Gator/Cookin’ sherry)
24199 Red Holloway (The burner/Red soul)
24200 Shirley Scott & Stanley Turrentine (Hip soul/Hip twist)
24208 Trudy Pitts (These blues of mine/Introducing TP (most))
24209 Boogaloo Joe Jones (No way/What it is)
24210 Sonny Stitt/Don Patterson (Funk you DP/Soul electricity SS)
24211 Rusty Bryant (Fire eater/Wild fire)
24212 Various artists – Tenor titans (ditto see 24196)
24218 Willis Jackson (Keep on a blowing/Thunderbird)
24219 Charles Kynard (Afro-disiac/Wa-tu-wa-zui)
24220 Jack McDuff (Brother Jack/Goodnight, it’s time to go)
24221 Houston Person (Truth/Soul dance)
24222 Richard “Groove” Holmes (Spicy/Livin’ soul)
24233 Shirley Scott (Soul sister/Travelin’ light (w K Burrell))
24234 Bill Jennings & Jack McDuff (Enough said/Glide on)
24235 Johnny “Hammond” Smith (Soul flowers/Dirty grape)
24236 Sonny Stitt (Low flame/Shangri-la)
24237 Don Patterson (Four dimensions/(rest of) Hip cake walk + other bits from session)

Related Fantasy twofers
24071 Gene Ammons – Organ combos (Twistin’ the Jug/Angel eyes/Velvet soul)
24118 Gene ammons, Sonny Stitt & Jack McDuff – Soul summit (vols 1 & 2)
24126 Shirley Scott – Workin’/Stompin’
24127 Sonny Stitt/Ervin/Patterson – Soul people (plus bits)
24129 Gene Ammons – The boss is back/Brother jug
24131 Jack McDuff & Kenny Burrell – Crash/Somethin’ slick +1
24133 Richard “Groove” Holmes – Blue Groove (Get up and get it/Soul mist)
24138 Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers – Tough/Saffron & soul
24141 Red Holloway & Jack McDuff – Brother Red (Cookin’ together + extras)
24142 Shirley Scott & Stanley Turrentine – Soul shoutin’/The soul is willing
24147 Jack McDuff – Live/At Jazz Workshop
24149 Don Patterson – Dem New York dues (Opus de don/Oh happy day)
24150 Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – Streetlights (I only have eyes for you/Trackin’)
24151 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Talk that talk/Gettin’ the message
24161 Willis Jackson – with Pat Martino (Jackson’s action/Live action)
24164 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – That good feelin’/All soul
24165 Sonny Stitt – Night letter/Soul shack (w McDuff)

24240 Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers – Cold shoulder (more bits)
24242 Jack McDuff – Silken soul (more bits & pieces)
24244 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – The soulful blues (Ebb tide/Nasty)
24253 Sonny Stitt & Don Patterson – The boss men/Night crawler + bits)
24254 Willis Jackson – Gravy (Grease & gravy/The good life)
24256 Jack McDuff – The soulful drums/Hot barbecue
24257 Charles Kynard – Soul Brotherhood/Reelin’ with the feelin’
24260 Billy Butler – Night life (Guitar soul/Yesterday, today & tomorrow)
24261 Sonny Stitt – Brothers four/Donnybrook (actually a Don Patterson session)
24265 Willis Jackson – Nuther’n like thuther’n (Boss shoutin’/More gravy
24267 Charles Earland – In concert (Live at the Lighthouse/Kharma)
24268 Eric Kloss – About time (Introducing EK/Love and all that jazz)
24269 Rusty Bryant – For the good times/Until it’s time for you to go
24270 Jack McDuff – The concert McDuff plus other live bits
24273 Willis Jackson – Soul night live/Tell it
24274 Jack McDuff – The last good ‘un (On with it + bits)
24276 Sonny Stitt – Goin’ down slow/So doggone good
24277 Bobby Timmons – The (not quite) Prestige trio sessions (Little barefoot soul/Chun-king)
24281 Gene Ammons – Fine and mellow (Big bad Jug/Got my own)
24282 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Good ’nuff (The stinger/Willis Jackson cooks with JHS)
24284 Willis Jackson & Jack McDuff – Together again/Together again, again
24289 Shirley Scott – Trio classics vol 1 (Great Scott!/Shirley’s sounds)
24290 Houston Person – Broken windows empty hallways/Sweet buns & barbeque
24291 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Opus de funk/Stimulation
24292 Richard “Groove” Holmes – Super soul/Soul power
24294 Willis Jackson – After hours (Loose/Soul grabber)
47072 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Black coffee/Mr Wonderful
47089 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Open house/A little taste
47098 Wild Bill Moore – Bottom Groove/Wild Bill’s beat

British issues on the Beat Goes Public label (Ace – all deleted since Concord)
CDBGPD040 Funk inc – Funk inc/Chicken lickin’
CDBGPD043 Boogaloo Joe Jones – Snake rhythm rock/Black whip
CDBGPD047 Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers – Heat/Jungle fire
CDBGPD058 Funk inc – Hangin’ out/Superfunk
CDBGPD063 Sonny Phillips – Sure ‘nuff/Black magic
CDBGPD067 Boogaloo Joe Jones – The Mindbender/My fire
CDBGPD093 Charles Earland – Black talk/Black drops
CDBGPD117 Billy Hawks – New genius of the blues/More heavy soul
CDBGPD119 Bobby Timmons – The soul man/Soul food
CDBGPD122 Freddie Roach – The soul book/Mocha motion

And one more essential item, from P-Vine
PCD5621 Rhoda Scott – Hey! Hey! Hey!/Live at the Key Club

Other infos on Ubu-Roi Blog.

Yma Sumac "Miracles"

Yma Sumac

"Miracles"
(LP London Records, 1972)
Catalog # XPS 608

Tracklisting:
A1 Remember (4:05)
A2 Medicine Man (3:02)
A3 Let Me Hear You (2:25)
A4 Tree Of Life (2:53)
A5 Flame Tree (2:44)
B1 Zebra (2:49)
B2 Azure Sands (2:35)
B3 Look Around (2:15)
B4 Magenta Mountain (3:00)
B5 El Condor Pasa (4:50)

Note:
Recorded from original vinyl.

Review:
The album cover of Miracles is a striking gold on blue with imagery of modern technology meeting the old world. VU meters adorn steps next to a mini sphinx with boats and electric/acoustic guitars in the water. The first song on this disc should've been a hit; "Remember" begins with a hard rock explosion and Sumac exploring what the liner notes call her "extraordinary five-octave voice." There are no lyrics here, just Sumac's vocal flights which ride over rock & roll textures. Although the rock here sounds like it is straight out of the Berklee College of Music, jazz influenced organ courtesy of Richard Person, Chuck Cowan's guitar, the bass of Roger Cowan, and Skippy Switzer's drums all shine here. On "Let Me Hear You," Sumac reaches down into her gut and comes up with a sound Peter Frampton utilized on his 1976 hit "Show Me the Way," the amazing thing is, she didn't have to use the mouth instrument employed by Frampton! "Tree of Life has keyboards licks from a Monkees album track ("(Look Out) Here Comes Tomorrow"), while "Azure Sands" on side two emulates "Music to Watch Girls By," the Bob Crewe hit from 1967, with an on-key Yoko Ono, that being Sumac. The similarity to Ono is worth noting. Where she is all over the map, Sumac is controlled, passionate. Ten tracks is a bit much of vocal exercises, chirps, and incessant styling, but the music on this album with bandleader Les Baxter has merit.
By Joe Viglione (AMG)

By Celo

Melvin Jackson “Funky Skull”

Melvin Jackson

“Funky Skull”
( LP Limelight Records, 1968 )
Catalog # LS 86071

Tracklisting:
A1 Funky Skull Parts 1 & 2 (4:53)
A2 Ma, She’s Makin’ Eyes At Me (0:51)
A3 Bold And Black (7:12)
A4 Dance Of The Dervish (6:39)
A5 Everybody Loves My Baby (2:20)
B1 Cold Duck Time Parts 1 & 2 (5:03)
B2 Say What (4:49)
B3 Funky Doo (4:53)
B4 Silver Cycles (9:26)

Personnel & Credits:
Bass [Acoustic String], Effects – Melvin Jackson
Drums – Billy Hart (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)
Piano, Organ, Effects – Jodie Christian (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)
Producer – Robin McBride
Saxophone [Alto], Flute – Roscoe Mitchell (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)
Saxophone [Tenor], Flute – Byron Bowie (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)
Trombone – Steve Galloway (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Leo Smith (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4) , Lester Bowie (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)
Vocals – Sound Of Feeling, The (tracks: A2 to A5, B2 to B4)

Review:
One of our favorite albums of all times and a legendary testament to the greatness of the Chicago music scene in the late 60s! Melvin Jackson was the bassist in Eddie Harris’ very successful group of the time and his playing on Eddie’s trippy and funky records for Atlantic is one of the factors that made them so great. Here, he’s working with an acoustic bass, amplified with electronics like a Varitone sax — and this strange-sounding instrument is set up in a hip group that mixes Cadet funky studio players (Phil Upchurch, Morris Jennings, Jody Christian) with some of the brighter young players of the AACM (Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, and Leo Smith.) Jackson’s bass is looped through all sorts of crazy effects, and the result is this amazing blend of avant garde playing and groovy rhythms that is beyond compare! The album includes great reworkings of two Eddie Harris funk tracks “Bold and Black” and “Cold Duck Time” plus monster originals like “Funky Doo”, “Say What”, “Dance Of The Dervish”, and “Funky Skull (parts 1 & 2)”
By Dusty Groove America.

*Also on Oufar Khan Blog.

By Celo

Fugi “Mary, Don’t Take Me On No Bad Trip”

Fugi

“Mary, Don’t Take Me On No Bad Trip”
( LP Funky Delicacies/Tuff City )
Catalog # LP 009 (Reissue)

Tracklisting:
1 – Revelations
2 – Mary Don’t Take Me On No Bad Trip
3 – I’d Rather Be a Blind Man
4 – Can’t You Hear Me Calling You, Woman
5 – Save a Little
6 – Jo-Jo
7 – Red Moon
8 – Sweet Sweet Lady
9 – Revelations (alternate take)

Review:
Originally scheduled for release on the famed Chess label,this album was scrapped in the early 70’s because it was deemed to trippy for Chess’ reputation. Muddy Waters and Donny Hathaway appear as session usicians on this psychadelic funk/soul offering. Fugi wrote the classic soul ballad”I’d Rather Go Blind,” the original version of which appears for the first time.

*Original recording on Chess Records, 1968.

By Celo