Sweet saxy grooves from reedman Steve Marcus – working here in a psychedelic approach to funky jazz! The album's easily one of Steve's greatest moments – and has Marcus playing both acoustic and electric saxes, in a lineup that also includes funky guitar from Larry Coryell, piano and harpsichord from Mike Nock, bass from Chris Hills, drums from Bob Moses, and even a bit of accordion from Dominic Cortese! The sound is definitely jazz, but there's plenty of influence from the rock side of the spectrum – yet never in a too-jamming rock fusion mode – always with the same sort of soulful, funky feel you'd get on records from the time by Tom Scott. Titles include "C'Est Ca", "Theresa's Blues", "Scarborough Fair", "Ooh Baby", and "Back Street Girl". ~ Dusty Groove
A sweet Atlantic soul groover from Brother Jack McDuff – and a set that has him tightening up his Hammond sound from his earlier years at Prestige Records! The tunes here are short and punched-up – almost instrumental soul numbers in their construction, but still filled with plenty of jazz – thanks to Jack's mad solos on organ, and some killer drums from Joe Dukes and Bernard Purdie! Other players include George Coleman on tenor, Cornell Dupree on guitar, and Buddy Lucas on baritone sax – and arrangements are by JJ Jackson and Jack himself. Titles include "Hotcha", "Down In the Valley", "Same Old Same Old", "No Tears", "What'd I Say", "Gonna Hang Me Up A Sign", and "Minha Saudade". ~ Dusty Groove
Great early genius from the Clarke Boland Big Band – proof that Kenny and Francy were onto something great, right from the start! The album really has the group hitting the heights of their MPS years – stretching out way past earlier big band modes, into the hip mix of rhythms and soulful solos that made the ensemble unlike any other group in the 60s – a really groundbreaking approach to their music, delivered by a range of top-shelf players! Arrangements are by Boland, who also plays piano – and other group members include Benny Bailey and Jimmy Deuchar on trumpets, Derek Humble on alto sax, Carl Drewo and Zoot Sims on tenor, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax and flute, and Ake Persson on trombone – plus rhythm from the rock-solid duo of Jimmy Woode on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. Titles include the Latin-tinged "Los Bravos", and more great originals by Boland – including "Volutes", "The Styx", "Charon's Ferry", and "Box 703 Washington DC" – plus versions of "Gloria" and "Last Train From Overbrook". ~ Dusty Groove
No comments:
Post a Comment