Plenty
of magic here from organist Sonny Phillips – who also plays a bit of Fender
Rhodes on the album too! The instrument is one that Sonny would use more later
in the 70s – and here, it comes across with the same heavy phrasing as a
Hammond – nice and blocky, which makes for a great mix with the other
instrumentation of the group – which includes Melvin Sparks on guitar, Ben Dixon
on drums, and Eddie Pazant (of the Pazant Brothers) on tenor! Some cuts have a
sweet mellow approach to funk – especially the excellent cut "Bean
Pie" – and other titles include "Make It Plain", "Wakin
Up", and "The Brotherhood". ~ Dusty Groove
ROY
HAYNES – CYMBALISM
A
cracker of an album – as fresh today as it was when it was first released in
1963! Roy Haynes is probably best known to the world for his bop work, but in
the early 60s, he was a budding modernist with a real sense for lyrical
improvisation. As part of a generation that was working on newly musical ways
of using the drums – players that included Andrew Cyrille and Chico Hamilton –
Haynes had a way of making the kit talk that's quite different than his roots
in 50s jazz. Here, he's playing with a very hip quartet that includes Frank
Strozier on alto and flute, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Larry Ridley on bass
– crafting tunes that swing at a lovely level, yet also have far-reaching and
exploratory passages. The whole album's a delight – and titles include
"Modette", "Go N Git It", "La Palomeinding", and
"Hag". ~ Dusty Groove
NATHAN
DAVIS – SUITE FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING
A soulful
and ambitious session from saxophonist Nathan Davis – a funky little gem that's
got a lot more to offer than just a simple tribute to Dr King! Nathan penned
the set in a mode that's expanded from most of his other albums – using larger
horns and electric instrumentation to give the record a groove that's almost
like funky 70s soundtrack work, but which is also offset by some shorter, more
introspective tracks that feature spoken narration about King and his legacy –
read by Donald M Henderson, and done in an extremely poetic way. The session's
as righteous as it is grooving – and showcases a side of Davis' talents we
never even knew he had – a rich larger musical vision, handled perfectly
throughout! Nathan plays a range of reed instruments on the album, and Frank
Cunimondo plays some sweet electric piano on the record – and singer Brenda
Joyce provides lyrics on a few numbers as well. Titles include "Funk A
Dilly Molly", "MLK", "Atlanta Walk", "Mean
Business", "Latin Happ'n", and "New Dues". ~ Dusty
Groove
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